UPDATE at 10:30 a.m.: 49ers CEO Jed York announced Thursday morning the team has hired former Eagles and Oregon head coach Chip Kelly
Mike Shanahan has reportedly emerged as a top candidate for the 49ers’ head-coaching job.
Shanahan interviewed for the job on Tuesday, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Thursday morning.
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CEO Jed York was at the NFL owners meetings in Houston on Tuesday, while general manager Trent Baalke had an interview with former New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin on the East Coast that day. Baalke flew to Houston later in the day to meet up with York.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who interviewed Coughlin on Monday, are talking to the two-time Super Bowl-winning coach about their opening.
The 49ers remain interested, but a source told CSNBayArea.com that he and his wife, Judy, prefer to remain on the East Coast. Coughlin has 11 grandchildren on the East Coast, with a 12th due next month.
The 49ers are still in the mix for Coughlin, but the organization has yet to make an offer to any of the candidates they have interviewed.
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[RELATED: Shanahan back in the mix for 49ers' job?]
The 49ers are not believed to be waiting for any assistant coach from a team currently in the playoffs. A source said the 49ers are expected to have their new coach in place by the close of the day on Friday.
The addition of Shanahan into the picture is a continuation from last year’s search, during which he was interviewed for the job. Ultimately, the 49ers decided on Jim Tomsula over Adam Gase. Tomsula was fired after the 49ers went 5-11.
Shanahan, 63, has not coached the past two seasons after his four-year tenure in Washington ended in turmoil. Shanahan and quarterback Robert Griffin publicly feuded. ESPN reported that Shanahan seriously considered quitting after coaching Griffin for one season.
Shanahan has a 170-138 overall record in 20 years as an NFL head coach. While with the Denver Broncos, Shanahan's teams won back-to-back Super Bowls in John Elway’s final two seasons. But in his past 14 seasons without Elway, Shanahan's teams recorded just one playoff victory.
Shanahan has ties to the 49ers’ last Super Bowl victory. He served as offensive coordinator for the 49ers’ high-flying offense of 1994 under coach George Seifert that rolled to a 49-26 victory over the San Diego Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. The Broncos hired him as head coach after that season.
Shanahan interviewed for the Miami Dolphins’ head-coaching position on Jan. 5, but the club hired Gase on Saturday.
In addition to Shahanan and Coughlin, the other candidates for the 49ers’ job are former Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly and Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who is widely considered the top candidate for the Buccaneers’ job to replace Lovie Smith.