In addition to potentially losing defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan could find himself losing two trusted assistants on the offensive side too. Passing-game coordinator Mike LaFleur and run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel are expected to draw interest from potential new head coaches around the league.
This year, thanks to new league rules, Shanahan cannot block interviews with LaFleur and McDaniel, so long as they are up for promotions to coordinator jobs.
Reports state Saleh may be interested in making LaFleur his offensive coordinator, should he land a head-coaching job. That much was assumed.
Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris recently interviewed with Atlanta. He will interview with the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Mike Silver of NFL Media reports that Morris might be interested in McDaniel as his offensive coordinator should Morris land a head-coaching job. The two were on the same coaching staffs from 2012-13 in Washington and then from 2015-16 in Atlanta.
1) If Falcons interim HC Raheem Morris, who interviewed in Atlanta Friday (and who, according to @JosinaAnderson, will interview with the Jaguars this week), gets a head coaching job, look for him to target 49ers run-game coordinator Mike McDaniel as his OC...
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 5, 2021
2) Morris and McDaniel worked together in Washington and Atlanta. Under the recent rule changes, McDaniel could not be blocked from accepting a play-calling offensive coordinator position...
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 5, 2021
3) Meanwhile, another HC candidate, Niners DC Robert Saleh, would likely bring SF passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur as his OC. (Both LaFleur and McDaniel have been blocked in previous years by the Niners.)
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 5, 2021
Last month, Shanahan joked that he told Saleh he couldn't pluck anyone away from the 49ers staff, should he become a head coach.
"I keep telling him he's not allowed to take anyone," Shanahan quipped. "Sometimes I can ease up a little bit on that, but I usually set the bar very low, and then we'll see what happens after."
H/t to Patrick Tulini for the find.