If Kyle Shanahan can keep his San Francisco 49ers staff together, he'll do everything in his power to do so. He knows how important it is to keep a coaching staff together and keep continuity from year to year.
In the past, Shanahan has blocked interview requests from teams interested in his assistant coaches. In the future, he may be limited in his ability to stop a coach from leaving.
NFL owners on Tuesday approved a resolution that will prevent teams from blocking assistant coaches interviewing for coordinator jobs, according to Jim Trotter of NFL Media.
BREAKING: NFL owners have voted to approve the resolution that would prevent teams from blocking assistant coaches from interviewing for coordinator positions, per sources. This is an important step.
— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) May 19, 2020
Shanahan has argued that he only blocks interviews of the requesting team isn't offering play-calling responsibilities. The 49ers have blocked requests to interview passing-game coordinator Mike LaFleur and run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel for that reason. Both are responsible for helping put together offensive game plans during the season.
Here's the answer: "The resolution changes the current Anti-Tampering Policy by establishing system that prohibits club from denying 1) an assistant the opportunity to interview with a new team for a bona fide Offensive, Defensive or Special Teams Coordinator position."
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) May 19, 2020
The new rule could prevent the 49ers from blocking further requests for either assistant, or others, in the future, assuming the interested team is looking to bring them in for a coordinator job.
Until now, NFL coaches could block any interview request that wasn't for a head-coaching vacancy, even if the move is considered a promotion.