The San Francisco 49ers search for a head coach rolled along on Saturday with another interview. Matt Barrows is reporting (subsequently confirmed by Eric Branch) the 49ers interviewed Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Prior to serving as Bucs OC, Koetter was Atlanta Falcons OC from 2012-2014, Jacksonville Jaguars OC from 2007-2011 (Blaine Gabbert was there in 2011), head coach of Arizona State from 2001-2006, and head coach of Boise State from 1998-2000.
The 49ers requested permission for the interview earlier in the week, but early indication was they had not yet received permission. The Bucs fired Lovie Smith, and there was a belief the team wanted to get Koetter into the head coach job. Given that the 49ers got an interview with Koetter, it would seem like the Bucs job is not quite as cinched up as we might have otherwise thought.
Dirk Koetter likely is getting some love for his work with Jameis Winston this season. The 49ers need somebody to develop their quarterback position, and Jim Tomsula and company certainly were not the answer. Steve Logan seemed to do some good things with Blaine Gabbert, but Gabbert was operating from a historically low bar coming into this season.
The 49ers interviewed former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly and Bills assistant coach Anthony Lynn on Thursday, and spoke with Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo on Friday. They are set to speak with Hue Jackson on Sunday. Jackson is viewed as the 49ers top target, but clearly they are trying to do some due diligence otherwise.