49ers general manager Trent Baalke is meeting with Tom Coughlin on the East Coast on Tuesday, a source told CSNBayArea.com's Matt Maiocco.
Coughlin is the sixth known candidate for the 49ers' head coaching vacancy.
"You know, I think it's just an average coaching class this year," former 49ers tight end Brent Jones told KNBR 680 on Monday evening. "Certainly Tom Coughlin, I have a lot of respect for him, he's got a lot of credibility. But my view is if you're going to hire an older coach, then I'd hire (Mike) Shanahan or (Mike) Holmgren 10 times faster than I'd hire him, and specifically because of their work with quarterbacks."
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Jones, who played for both Holmgren and Shanahan during his 11-year career (1987 to 1997) with the 49ers, made the Pro Bowl four straight years (1992 to 1995).
Holmgren was the 49ers' quarterbacks coach from 1986 to 1988. He was the team's offensive coordinator from 1989 to 1991.
[MAIOCCO: Pros and cons of 49ers' coaching candidates]
He was the head coach of the Packers from 1992 to 1998, where he won the Super Bowl in 1996 and lost to the Broncos in the Super Bowl in 1997.
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Holmgren was the head coach of the Seahawks from 1999 to 2008. Seattle lost to Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl in 2005.
Shanahan was the 49ers' offensive coordinator from 1992 to 1994, and won two Super Bowls (1997 and 1998) as the head coach of the Broncos.
Coughlin, meanwhile, led the 1999 Jaguars to a 14-2 record, before falling in the AFC title game.
His Giants won the Super Bowl in 2007 and 2011.
What about Hue Jackson?
"Hue Jackson -- I think he's got some good ideas and I thnk he comes with some thoughtful offense, but he certainly has a little baggage as well," Jones declared. "The reality is, I think the 49ers wanted Sean Payon first and foremost, and Sean Payton had some good leverage and wanted a big payday and nobody wanted to pay that so we moved on to Hue.
"And Hue's playing the Browns against us, and maybe the Giants. But I think the Browns have a distinct advantage because of the fact they fired Ray Farmar, their GM, and Hue's a guy, from what I know, that's gonna want some personnel say, and I don't know how much the 49ers are willing to budge there. So that puts the Browns in the driver seat."
Last Saturday, sources told Matt Maiocco they expect the 49ers to have a new head coach "early next week."
On Sunday, San Francisco interviewed Jackson, but did not make an offer.
"If we don't go to Hue Jackson, I don't know that Tom Coughlin is the guy," Jonessaid. "It certainly seems like Chip Kelly has lost any momentum. From there, I don't know where it could go..."