NFL coaching rumors: Josh McDaniels might be staying put in New England

The San Francisco 49ers coaching search might have lost a candidate. D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is expected to stay with the New England Patriots. The article was about Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles getting a second interview with the Atlanta Falcons, and it only briefly dropped in the line about McDaniels staying with the Patriots. Patriots.com mentioned the article, but did not add anything to it.

If McDaniels is indeed off the table, the 49ers would find themselves with one more candidate off the table following Rex Ryan's hiring in Buffalo. The 49ers have also interviewed Todd Bowles, but nobody seems to know if they will in fact get a second interview with him. Bowles is a popular candidate, and he is also expected to get a second interview with the New York Jets. Teryl Austin is also expected to get a second interview with the Falcons.

The 49ers last known interview was with Todd Bowles this past Friday. That was followed by word of a potential second interview, with Bowles's agent saying there nothing planned. The 49ers are obviously doing something at this point, but we really have no idea what that is.

Dan Quinn remains a potential candidate, but he is rumored to be most interested in the Jets job. He cannot interview again with anybody until after the NFC Championship Game. That is not until this Sunday, so we'll see if the 49ers have a new coach by then.