The 49ers have interviews scheduled with the first two confirmed candidates for their head-coaching opening, according to multiple sources.
The team is scheduled to meet with Buffalo Bills assistant head coach/running backs Anthony Lynn on Thursday in New York, where the owners meetings are taking place.
The 49ers have an interview scheduled Sunday with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. The Bengals play host to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday in an AFC wild-card playoff game. The Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns are also expected to interview Jackson in Cincinnati on Sunday, according to reports.
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[MAIOCCO: 49ers' head coaching candidates]
Jackson also interviewed for the 49ers’ head-coaching vacancy in 2011, when Jim Harbaugh was hired. The Raiders hired Jackson that season, and the club finished 8-8 before he was fired at the conclusion of the season.
Interviews with Lynn and Jackson would fulfill the team’s requirement under the Rooney Rule, which stipulates that a minority candidate must be interviewed before a team hires its coach.
CEO Jed York announced the firing of coach Jim Tomsula on Sunday night, just hours after the 49ers concluded the season with a 19-16 overtime victory against the St. Louis Rams. The 49ers were 5-11 in Tomsula’s only season.