Geep Chryst, who served as offensive coordinator in Jim Tomsula’s only season as 49ers head coach, is among 10 assistant coaches new coach Chip Kelly has informed of their firings.
The nine other coaches who appeared Tuesday on the league's coaching notice as "deleted" were quarterbacks coach Steve Logan, wide receivers coaches Adam Henry and Ronald Curry, secondary coach Tim Lewis, defensive line coach Scott Brown, defensive assistants Ejiro Evero and Aubrayo Franklin, and offensive assistants T.C. McCartney and Joe Scola. Pro Football Talk first reported the firings.
Henry reportedly has accepted a job to coach wide receivers with the New York Giants.
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In addition, three other position coaches landed in other jobs. Former tight ends coach Tony Sparano was hired as Minnesota’s offensive line coach, offensive line coach Chris Foerster joined Adam Gase’s new staff with the Miami Dolphins in the same role, and former linebackers coach Clancy Pendergast is USC’s new defensive coordinator.
Chryst came under fire during his only season as coordinator for implementing an offense that was simplistic and lacked imagination. The 49ers ranked 31st in the NFL last season in total offense, averaging just 303.8 yards per game. The 49ers were 32nd in scoring at 14.9 points per game – the lowest in the NFL since the Kansas City Chiefs averaged 13.2 points in 2012.
Running backs coach Tom Rathman will remain on Kelly’s staff, a source told CSNBayArea.com. Outside linebacker’s coach Jason Tarver is expected to be retained, too.
Defensive coordinator Eric Mangini and special-teams coach Thomas McGaughey remain in the mix to return to their current positions. The 49ers interviewed Houston Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday for the team’s coordinator position. The 49ers are also expected to meet with former Dolphins running backs coach Jeff Nixon, a source told CSNBayArea.com. It is not known what position Kelly is considering for Nixon.
San Francisco 49ers
Assistant special-teams coach Richard Hightower, defensive assistant Mick Lombardi, assistant offensive line coach Eric Wolford, and the team's entire strength and conditioning staff, were not listed as "deleted" from the 49ers' staff.