The San Francisco 49ers were reportedly considering two candidates for their special teams coordinator vacancy. The first was Chicago Bears assistant special teams coach Richard Hightower, who was reportedly their top candidate, and the second was Atlanta Falcons assistant special teams coach Eric Sutulovich. According to Adam Caplan of ESPN, Hightower will get the job.
Richard Hightower will be #49ers special teams coach, source said. Shanahan did also interview Eric Sutulovich for the job.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and Hightower were teammates at the University of Texas and then served on the same staffs with the Houston Texans (2006-08), Washington Redskins (2010-13), and Cleveland Browns (2014). While Hightower has never been a coordinator, he has been a member of the 49ers coaching staff before. He served as the team's assistant special teams coach in 2015.
During that season with the 49ers, Hightower helped the punt coverage unit rank eighth in the NFL allowing just 6.4 yards per return, while working with rookie punter Bradley Pinion. Kicker Phil Dawson was 10th in the NFL with an 88.9 field goal percentage, which tied for the fourth-highest percentage of his 17-year career.
Hightower joined the Chicago staff in January of 2016.
Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Mick Lombardi replaces Brian Griese as 49ers QB coach; Klay Kubiak officially named offensive coordinator
By David Bonilla
Feb 25
The San Francisco 49ers announced several coaching staff changes on Tuesday, including a surprising move—Mick Lombardi replacing Brian Griese as quarterbacks coach.
RELATED: 49ers announce coaching staff changes
What happened to Griese? That remains unclear. We may have...
Saints hiring 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator
By David Bonilla
Feb 21
Multiple reports confirm that the New Orleans Saints are hiring San Francisco 49ers assistant head coach Brandon Staley as their new defensive coordinator under head coach Kellen Moore. Staley, who spent one season with the 49ers, was not expected to return to head coach Kyle...
Report: Teams have inquired about trading for 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk
By David Bonilla
Feb 25
It seems unlikely that any team would pursue a trade for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk at this time. Not only is he now among the NFL's highest-paid wideouts, but he is also recovering from a significant ACL injury. No one is even sure Aiyuk will be ready to...
One player made the 49ers one of the most-fined teams last season
By David Bonilla
Feb 25
Action Network recently released a list of the most-fined NFL teams during the 2024 season (h/t Niners Wire), with the San Francisco 49ers ranking ninth.
The Houston Texans topped the list, accumulating $3.15 million in fines—largely due to defensive end Denico Autry,...
