49ers request permission to interview Dan Quinn, Todd Bowles

The San Francisco 49ers head coach search appears to be widening. Josina Anderson is reporting the team has requested permission to interview Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles. This comes after news the team requested permission to interview Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase.

The 49ers can interview Quinn this weekend because the Seahawks have a first round bye. They would not be able to interview Bowles until next week. Even if the Cardinals win this weekend, the 49ers would be able to interview Bowles through the divisional round. Of course, if the Cardinals are still alive, it is possible Bowles will prefer to get through the playoffs and not remove focus from the divisional round game. This is of course assuming they beat the Panthers this weekend.

Quinn has been the Seahawks defensive coordinator the last two seasons. He was DC for the University of Florida in 2011 and 2012, and Seahawks assistant head coach/defensive line coach in 2009 and 2010. He has experience with the 49ers and the York family, having served as defensive line coach in 2003 and 2004, and as defensive quality control coach in 2001 and 2002. The first seven years of his career involved college work.

Here is a brief comment from Field Gulls:

The Seahawks have had the best defense, probably, the past two seasons, so he should receive a lot of interest. A defensive line specialist. Formerly the DC at Florida. Really knows his stuff but it's unclear if he's really running his own defense or Pete Carroll's. Either way, track record of success and if anyone wants to install Seattle's D, he's the guy to do it.

Bowles has been the Cardinals defensive coordinator the last two seasons. Prior to that he was the Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in 2012. He was assistant head coach and secondary coach with the Miami Dolphins from 2008 to 2011, and actually briefly served as interim head coach in 2011 after the Dolphins fired Tony Sparano.

In the 49ers statement about Jim Harbaugh's departure, Jed York said that Trent Baalke was leading the coach search. I know some are skeptical about Baalke, but as long as he is the one leading the search and making the final decision, I'm much happier than Jed York getting involved in the process too much. I realize York will have final, final say, but hopefully it's just rubber-stumping Baalke's decision. If it all blows up, so be it, but I'm willing to wait and see.