The San Francisco 49ers have now denied other NFL teams permission to interview three members of head coach Kyle Shanahan's staff. The latest is wide receivers/passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur, who was denied permission to speak with the Green Bay Packers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Mike LaFleur is the younger brother of the Packers' new head coach, Matt LaFleur.
The 49ers also blocked the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings on interview requests for LaFleur.
Packers and HC Matt LaFleur were denied permission to interview/hire younger brother, Mike LaFleur, the 49ers' WR/passing-game specialist. 49ers told Packers, Browns and Vikings no on talking to Mike LaFleur. Also rejected interview requests on Mike McDaniel and Rich Scangarello.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 12, 2019
The 49ers have already denied NFL teams permission to interview run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel, whom the Arizona Cardinals requested, and quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello, whom the Denver Broncos requested. Both were being considered for offensive coordinator jobs.
LaFleur is in his second season with San Francisco. He served as the team's wide receivers/passing game coordinator in 2017.
While the 49ers were the only NFL team without a 500-yard wide receiver this past season, injuries, which devastated the position, have attributed to a lot of that. The 49ers have been linked to Pittsburgh Steelers veteran receiver Antonio Brown, who has expressed a desire to be traded.
The #49ers were the only team in the #NFL without a 500-yard wide receiver in 2018. First time for the @49ers in over 40 years... @AB84 🤔 #49wz
— Chris Wilson (@cgawilson) January 11, 2019
LaFleur previously worked with Shanahan in 2015 and 2016 when the 49ers head coach was the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons. He worked with the Falcons receivers, including Julio Jones, who finished the 2016 season second in the NFL with 1,409 receiving yards.
With three denials, Shanahan is working hard to block other teams from poaching his coaching staff. NFL teams can deny permission to interview assistants, even if it appears to be a promotion because the league puts coaches into two categories: assistants and head coaches. Only interview opportunities for the latter must be allowed for assistants.
"I like our staff a lot. I think we've got some good coaches," Shanahan told reporters on December 31.
The #49ers have repeatedly denied assistant coaches permission to interview elsewhere. If a position coach on #49ers staff wants a coordinator job elsewhere, he will have to let contract expire and not sign extension. These coaches are generally on rolling two-year deals. https://t.co/jXQUrb2zcA
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) January 12, 2019
Not all of Shanahan's staff was safe. The 49ers recently fired head strength and conditioning coach Ray Wright and long-time head athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson.
"I'm not going to ever say that everyone is just totally safe forever," Shanahan continued. "But, what I can say is I think our staff is a very good staff and I like what our guys are, and where they can be, and it's the staff I want to hold onto."