San Francisco 49ers running backs coach Tom Rathman is very well respected around the league. Aside from his exceptional career as a 49ers fullback, Rathman has had two stints with the team as a position coach. The first was from 1997 until 2002 and the second since 2009. If he remains with the 49ers after Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is named the head coach, he will have been with the team through five head coaches during his most recent stint.
#49ers want Tom Rathman back, but it's not entirely certain in what role. KS could make bid to bring ATL RBs coach Bobby Turner with him. https://t.co/E7kBOhtf5t
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) February 5, 2017
On Sunday, Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reported that the 49ers want Rathman to return, but it is unknown what role he would serve. Maiocco points out that Shanahan could bring Falcons running backs coach Bobby Turner with him.
Shanahan is expected to be named the new head coach of the 49ers as early as Monday and that's when the team will begin aggressively building their coaching staff. Shanahan will join new general manager John Lynch, who joined the 49ers a week ago.
Following Rathman's first stint with the 49ers as an assistant coach, he followed head coach Steve Mariucci in 2003 to the Detroit Lions. Rathman also served as the running backs coach for the Oakland Raiders from 2006 until 2008. As a player, Rathman was part of two 49ers Super Bowl teams (XXIII, XXIV).