Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers are adding former Houston Texans assistant Wes Welker to serve as the team's wide receivers coach, according to multiple reports.
Yes, that Wes Welker.
Sorry to see Wes Welker leave the Texans but he'll do well with Niners.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) February 5, 2019
It will be interesting to see how this move impacts Mike LaFleur, who currently holds the title of wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. The 49ers recently denied multiple teams from interviewing LaFleur, so he is unlikely to be headed elsewhere.
Welker spent the past two seasons as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans working alongside wide receivers coach John Perry. Before that, he spent 12 years as an accomplished NFL wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and St. Louis Rams.
Albert Breer of The MMQB reported that Welker interviewed with the 49ers on Monday, January 28. He also interviewed with the Green Bay Packers.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle noticed on Tuesday that Welker's name was absent from the Texans' coaching staff list for the upcoming season. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle confirmed minutes later that Welker was headed to the 49ers.
Matt Barrows of The Athletic confirmed that Welker will serve as the 49ers' receivers coach.
The San Diego Chargers signed Welker as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2004. The Chargers released him after the first regular-season game that year.
Welker, 37, is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro. He caught 903 passes for 9,924 receiving yards with 50 receiving touchdowns and had 16,797 all-purpose yards over his 12-year career. Welker holds the record for most receptions by an undrafted player in NFL history.