OTHER..
During an appearance on the podcast “The Athletic Football Show” this past week, Dianna Russini of The Athletic revealed an unusual information.
She said that prior to the Kansas City Chiefs landing Steve Spagnuolo with a new contract, the San Francisco 49ers had expressed interest in him for their open defensive coordinator post.
“San Francisco was flirting with him, thinking about bringing him in as DC,” said Russini.
In the end, the 49ers filled Steve Wilks’ vacancy as defensive coordinator by elevating defensive passing game specialist Nick Sorensen to the position.
In addition, San Francisco replaced Anthony Lynn as the team’s assistant head coach with Brandon Staley, a former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano offered more details about the 49ers’ hunt for a new defensive coordinator on Sunday.
claiming to have looked into a number of “intriguing options,” including Spagnuolo.
“The most intriguing would have been an all-time if-you-can’t-beat-’em-join-’em move,” Graziano stated. “Sources say the Niners explored the possibility of hiring Steve Spagnuolo away from the Chiefs for their defensive coordinator position shortly after their Super Bowl loss to Kansas City.”
It would have been a risky move for head coach Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers to go after a play-caller who is considered as one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, especially considering their desire to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs, who have destroyed their chances of winning the Super Bowl the previous two seasons.
The Chiefs probably moved fast to keep their talented coach because of the interest.
