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We had heard this report before, but with Kyle Shanahan officially on to San Francisco, it’s worth re-visiting how the staff is likely to change. Right now, two assistants are being strongly linked to the new staff.
Source tells @sn_nfl that Kyle Shanahan targeting @AtlantaFalcons staff member Mike McDaniel as @49ers new WRs coach
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) February 6, 2017
Sources tell me Falcons offensive assistant Mike LaFleur is likely to join #49ers staff. QBs coach Matt LaFleur probably will not.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) February 6, 2017
McDaniel, you may recall, was a name bandied about for the offensive coordinator opening in the last month. Given that he’s going to apparently settle for a wide receivers coach position with the 49ers, it’s fair to say that wasn’t a serious possibility. LaFleur is quarterbacks coach Matt LaFleur’s brother, and could be in line for that gig in San Francisco, too. Shanahan may also want to poach Turner, a distinguished coach who spent with him in Washington and once coached Terrell Davis in Denver, but I’m hopeful the Falcons will be able to keep him given the fantastic work he’s done with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.
As of now, the Falcons still have significant pieces of Shanahan’s staff, including wide receivers coach Raheem Morris (who is tight with Dan Quinn), longtime running backs coach Bobby Turner, offensive line coach Chris Morgan, and tight ends coach Wade Harman. Morris and Turner could be internal options for offensive coordinator along with LaFleur, but he does apparently have an interview lined up with the Rams for their vacant OC job, and I suspect he’ll wind up taking that gig.
We’ll see who ultimately winds up with the Falcons’ OC gig, but you’d be wise to keep an eye on that list of names and that of Chip Kelly, who is being bandied about as a possibility.