The San Francisco 49ers have decided to promote defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to head coach, sources told ESPN National Football League Insider Adam Schefter.
Tomsula has spent the last eight years as the 49ers’ defensive line coach. He will replace former head coach and Palo Alto High School alumnus Jim Harbaugh, who parted ways with the Niners on Dec. 28 to coach at the University of Michigan.
49ers CEO Jed York explains why he picked Tomsula as head coach. “After conducting a thorough coaching search, and meeting with a number of outstanding candidates, Jim Tomsula clearly is the right man to lead this team,” York said. “Jim is a great teacher and a tremendous mentor who conducts himself with great class and integrity.”
Many of the team’s current players approve of York’s pick of a new head coach, which improves York’s image. Defensive Tackle Justin Smith says that Tomsula has the personality and knowledge to go with the position.
“He’s a fiery guy. He’s not just a rah-rah guy, there’s a lot more to him than that,” Smith told 49ers.com. “He knows his stuff so you don’t have to yell and just jump around all the time. You can actually talk. He’ll give us some information, some input, how we’re going to shut it down and that’s what I appreciate about him.”
Nose Tackle Glenn Dorsey agreed with Smith.
“He’s a hard-working, blue-collar guy and a lot of guys in the locker room can relate to him. He brings a lot of enthusiasm to the game, and a lot of wisdom. He works well with us and we respond well,” Dorsey told 49ers.com. “He’d make a great head coach. He’s just a tremendous coach, and he’s helped me a lot, on and off the field.”
The Niners missed the playoffs for the first time with Harbaugh as head coach by going 8-8 this season en route to a disappointing third-place finish in the NFC West.
Harbaugh’s first three seasons in San Francisco were marked by overwhelming success, as the Niners appeared in the NFC Championship Game three straight times and reached Super Bowl XLVII.
But after getting off to a 7-4 start this season, San Francisco struggled down the stretch, losing four of its final five games.
Harbaugh’s fourth season with the Niners was impaired by the shortcomings of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, regressing in his second year as starter, the lengthy absence of star pass-rusher Aldon Smith, who was suspended nine games for multiple violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and the off-field troubles of defensive lineman Ray McDonald, who was released last month following an allegation of sexual assault.