49ers coaching search narrows

Published 12:08 am Tuesday, January 17, 2017

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The search for San Francisco’s new coach narrowed Monday with New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels pulling out of the running for the job, while the 49ers added more candidates for their general manager vacancy.

Shortly after McDaniels said he was no longer a candidate to replace the fired Chip Kelly in San Francisco, team CEO Jed York interviewed Seattle co-directors of player personnel Trent Kirchner and Scott Fitterer later Monday for the GM job previously held by Trent Baalke.

McDaniels, who was the head coach in Denver from 2009-10, was considered one of the favorites to land the coaching job because of his success running New England’s offense before deciding to stay with the Patriots for at least another year.

That leaves only two coaching candidates remaining unless San Francisco decides to open up the search before making a final decision: Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Seattle offensive line coach Tom Cable. Shanahan cannot be hired until the Falcons’ season is over

The 49ers have the only coach opening left in the NFL after the other five vacancies have all been filled.

Kirchner has 17 years of experience in the NFL since starting as a scouting intern in Seattle in 2000. Fitterer has 19 years of NFL personnel experience and has been with the Seahawks since 2001.

York has already interviewed seven other candidates for general manager: Arizona vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough, ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, Carolina assistant GM Brandon Beane on Monday, Indianapolis vice president of football operations Jimmy Raye III, Minnesota assistant GM George Paton, Green Bay director of football operations Eliot Wolf and Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst.

— From wire reports