Report: Dan Quinn Announced To Falcons’ Staff That Kyle Shanahan Will Be 49ers’ Next HC

Update:

Mike Silver of NFL Media reports that Falcons HC Dan Quinn announced to the team’s coaching staff that Kyle Shanahan will, in fact, be the next head coach of the 49ers.

“I’m told that when the 49ers essentially offered Kyle Shanahan the job – they’re not allowed to formally offer but told him, ‘you’re our guy’ – that all the coaches were in a room together finding out, and Dan Quinn kind of announced it to the group,” Silver said, via NinersNation.com. “I don’t know if people broke into a round of applause but it was a glorious moment at the Falcons facility. Super supportive about Kyle Shanahan going to the 49ers.”

The 49ers can’t officially hire Shanahan or offer him the job until the Falcons’ season is officially over, but it would take a significant change of plans for him to not get the job.

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Mike Silver of NFL Media, citing sources familiar with both parties, reports that it’s “almost certain” that Kyle Shanahan will accept a multi-year offer from the 49ers to be their next head coach.

• Silver adds that Shanahan will essentially get to pick the team’s next general manager from the available list of candidates, but Packers executive Brian Gutekunst is considered to be the favorite.
• In regards to Seahawks assistant HC Tom Cable, Silver says the 49ers’ interest was real and team owner Denise DeBartolo York interviewed him on the phone for an hour Tuesday.
• According to Silver, multiple GM candidates wanted to hire Cable as their head coach including Trent Kirchner, Scott Fitterer, and Chris Ballard. Although, Ballard declined to interview for the job.
• Interestingly enough, Silver reports that Gus Bradley wanted to go to San Francisco and join Cable’s staff and the 49ers even tried to hire him without Cable, but he declined.
• Silver adds that Kirchner and Cable pulled out of the running today because they became convinced that the 49ers had informally offered Shanahan the job and he planned to accept.

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers plan to offer their head-coaching job to Falcons’ OC Kyle Shanahan after Atlanta’s season officially ends.

• Schefter adds that the 49ers will request a second interview with Shanahan for after the NFC Championship game.
• Mike Silver says that there’s no guarantee Shanahan accepts the job but if he does, Packers executive Brian Gutekunst is the “front-runner” for the 49ers’ GM position followed by Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Packers executive Eliot Wolf.
• Ian Rapoport reports that the 49ers plan to get their top GM candidates to meet with Shanahan next week when they’re allowed to meet with him to see who will be the best fit.

Earlier in the day, Rapoport reported that it’s “clear” the 49ers’ head-coaching job is Shanahan’s to take once Atlanta’s season is officially over, so this doesn’t come as a big surprise.

Shanahan has been the favorite for the 49ers’ job since Patriots OC Josh McDaniels elected to bow out of the running for the job (NFLTR) and remain in New England.

Shanahan, 37, began his NFL coaching career with the Buccaneers as an offensive quality control coordinator back in 2004. He later joined the Texans in 2006 and worked his way up to offensive coordinator before joining his father’s coaching staff with the Redskins in 2010.

After one season with the Browns, Shanahan departed and accepted the offensive coordinator position with the Falcons.

In 2016, the Falcons’ offense ranked No. 1 in points scored, No. 2 in total yards, No. 5 rushing yards and No. 3 in passing yards.

We’ll have more regarding the 49ers and Shanahan as the news is available.