Tony Sparano as 49ers TEs coach appears to be all but official

The San Francisco 49ers would seem to have figured out their tight ends coach. ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Sparano is being hired as the team's new tight ends coach. This news comes a day after Matt Barrows was the first to report Sparano was on the radar for the role. Sparano replaces Eric Mangini as tight ends coach.

Sparano most recently served as interim head coach of the Oakland Raiders, and has spent much of his career as an offensive line coach. From 2001 to 2004, however, he coached tight ends for three different teams. He also has two separate stints as an assistant head coach. There is no word on if he will assume a similar role with the 49ers, but his experience will be of some use.

The 49ers coaching staff development has been a bit odd, as the team appears to be doing the opposite of a top-down approach. The team has not hired an offensive or defensive coordinator, at least according to reports. Instead, they are hiring the coaches that will work underneath the coordinators. It is entirely possible they think they have an OC and DC lined up, but we cannot be certain.

I've thought Rob Chudzinski would be the next offensive coordinator, but that is up int he air with his status in Indianapolis a question mark. And Eric Mangini has been rumored as a potential defensive coordinator, but that is still a question mark as well. The process has been odd, but it will hopefully wrap up in the next week or so.

Head coach: Jim Tomsula (news)
Offensive coordinator: Rob Chudzinski (news), Mike Shanahan (rumor), Lane Kiffin (rumor)
Defensive coordinator: Eric Mangini (news-ish)
Linebackers coach: Jason Tarver (news)
Special teams coordinator: Thomas McGaughey (news)
Quarterbacks coach: Geep Chryst (TBD)
Running backs coach: Tom Rathman (news)
Offensive line coach: Chris Foerster (news)
Assistant OL coach: Eric Wolford (news)
Wide receivers coach: Ronald Curry (TBD)
Tight ends coach: Tony Sparano (news)
Offensive assistant: Mick Lombardi (TBD)