Cowboys coaching shakeup could present 49ers with coordinator candidate

“Fassel’s special teams unit ranked third in the league in DVOA (4.6%) this past season, trailing only the Detroit Lions (5.4%) and Pittsburgh Steelers (5.3%). The 49ers have already interviewed Lions assistant special teams coach Jett Modkins for their vacancy, making it reasonable to assume Fassel might also draw interest.

Fassel has extensive experience, having served as a special teams coordinator for the Oakland Raiders (2008–2011) and the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams (2012–2019), as well as assistant special teams coach for the Baltimore Ravens (2005–2007).”

Why 49ers’ Brock Purdy should approach contract talks with patience (paywall)

“Last week, 49ers radio announcers and team employees Greg Papa and Tim Ryan said they would proceed with caution with Purdy’s contract. Their comments during interviews on KNBR were notable partly because they’ve provided insight into the 49ers’ feeling about Purdy in the past.

In 2022, when Purdy was a still anonymous rookie, Papa and Ryan made it clear during a preseason game against the Vikings that the seventh-round pick was competing with Nate Sudfeld, who had a contract that guaranteed him $2 million, for the backup job behind Trey Lance.

Ryan said last week that he didn’t think the 49ers would be in a rush to reach an agreement with Purdy and wondered whether the QB would accept a deal that maybe “isn’t what everybody is talking about.”

“I don’t think starting today it’s all about ‘How do they get Brock done in the next five months and is it going to be the richest contract in pro football for quarterbacks?’” Ryan said. “My opinion is that is not going to be the first priority.”

…..

Papa said he knew the 49ers would be careful with Purdy’s contract after he “didn’t play as well” last season and suggested that, if they gave him a long-term extension, they might be amenable only to a lesser deal.

“If there’s a workable number they could get him signed to — in the low 40s average annual value — they may pursue that,” Papa said. “But do you want to do one where the average annual value is in the 50s? Or maybe approaching Dak Prescott and you’re in the 60s? Then you have to go through your roster … Who’s coming off the roster? What positions will be marginalized because the quarterback is making so much money?”

49ers interview ex-Panthers interim coach for special-teams opening

“Tabor made his head-coaching debut against the 49ers on Oct. 31, 2021, after then-Bears coach Matt Nagy tested positive for the coronavirus, and San Francisco won that game 33-22. Two years later, Tabor compiled a 1-5 record as Carolina’s interim coach before the team let him go in January 2024.

During Tabor’s Browns tenure, they were the only NFL team to have earned at least one AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award each season from 2011 to 2016.Browns kicker Phil Dawson and returner Joshua Cribbs both were selected to the Pro Bowl under his watch in 2012 — just the second time in franchise history that two specialists earned the honor in the same season. The Browns also led the NFL in punt return average (11.3 yards), were first in kickoff return average against (19.8) and were tied for sixth in punt return touchdowns (4) during Tabor’s tenure.”

PFF: 49ers would benefit from drafting this All-American offensive tackle

“Banks was elite as a pass blocker in 2024, allowing just four total pressures on 143 true pass sets.”

Banks certainly graded high when it comes to pass-blocking. He earned an impressive 89.8 grade in that category last season, the highest among Longhorns players and fifth-best among all collegiate offensive linemen. Additionally, he posted an 81.0 run-blocking grade, a significant improvement from his 68.4 mark in 2023, culminating in a career-high 86.0 overall offensive grade.”