Speculation is rampant, of course. It always is in situations like this where an NFL team fires its head coach right after the season ends, giving prognosticators lots and lots of time to offer suggestions and insights so top management of the teams can make the right choice for the next guy in the Hot Seat. It’s mostly fruitless but it’s still fun.
I’m working on my own list of top candidates. Meanwhile, I thought you’d find this list from Niners Nation columnist David Neumann interesting. It’s one of the better-thought-out lists I’ve seen in culling through dozens. Neumann offers the following four guys as his top picks for the Niners to focus on and he provides some interesting statistical support for his recommendations. You’ll enjoy hearing from him.
- Hue Jackson
- Chip Kelly
- Josh McDaniels
- Sean Payton
One notable name missing from his list is Mike Holmgren, who is rumored to have expressed serious interest already. Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated’s Monday Morning Quarterback reported a few days ago that Holmgren was interested.
His list also excludes Mike Shanahan, who has reportedly already had one interview with the Niners’ management. (Please, God, let it not be Shanahan!)
Sacramento Bee Niners’ beat reporter Matt Barrows, who has pretty good sources and is considered one of the better guys covering the team full-time, adds to Neumann’s list Todd Haley, Adam Gase (who you’ll remember was on lots of pundits’ short lists before the 49ers stumbled over Tomsula), Vic Fangio, and David Shaw. He also mentioned Shanahan (Yikes!) and Holmgren.
Watch this space for my own prognostications in coming days.