Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the San Francisco 49ers are ready and waiting to offer the head coach job to Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. They are willing to wait for the Falcons' postseason run to end – whenever that might be.
49ers plan to offer their HC job to Falcons' OC Kyle Shanahan whenever Atlanta's season ends, sources tell ESPN. Willing to wait for him.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 17, 2017
Of course, the 49ers cannot officially extend an offer until the Falcons are eliminated from the playoffs. On Saturday, Shanahan's offense outmatched the Seattle Seahawks defense in the Divisional round as the Falcons won 36-20.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Albert Breer of TheMMQB both report that the 49ers plan to bring Shanahan back following the NFC Championship Game. If the Falcons win, it will be to go through general manager candidates with him. If they lose, it will be to extend the job offer to Shanahan.
Niners plan to bring Shanahan back next wk. If Atl wins -- 2d interview, to vet GM candidates. If they lose -- it'll be to try to hire him. https://t.co/kJQvHaz79B
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 17, 2017
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, Shanahan is focused on the Falcon's playoff push and won't make a decision on his future until he is through with the postseason and can take a full look at the 49ers' situation.
Shanahan had also met with the Los Angeles Rams, who hired former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay, Jacksonville Jaguars, who promoted interim head coach Doug Marrone, and the Denver Broncos, who hired former Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. The 49ers are the only remaining team with a head coach vacancy.
Shanahan has been the offensive coordinator with Atlanta since 2015. Prior to that, he held the same position with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins, and Houston Texans. Shanahan was the offensive coordinator in Washington at the same time that his father, Mike Shanahan, was the head coach.