Earlier last month, a rumor started floating around the ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer was potentially going to join the 49ers organization in an unspecified role. Dilfer quickly shot that down with local media, and things kind of died down. We now have an update. The former NFL quarterback sat down for an interview with MMQB and told them he has signed an extension with ESPN. His role will expand from just Monday Night Countdown to now include Sunday NFL Countdown work.
There is no word yet on if Dilfer and Chris Berman will call the second half of the season-opening Monday Night Football double-header. They’ve done that recently, in part as a sort of emeritus opportunity for Berman. The San Francisco 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams in that game this season. Trent Dilfer knows a lot about football, but his close ties to the 49ers organization can make it difficult to listen to. Obviously I don’t want an announcer who is decidedly in favor of the other team, but I like having a more neutral balance. And while Berman is entertaining to a certain extent, his schtick has worn down for me. I can see why some people still like him, but he just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
Dilfer’s interview is an interesting one. He talks about college prospects and his Elite 11 quarterback camp work. He also suggests that Carson Wentz has gone to the best situation for a young quarterback. Dilfer thinks Sam Bradford will play well enough to hold down the job this year, but he likes Wentz’s situation. He had this to say about it:
A really good situation right now for a young quarterback is Philly. Philly has a great situation with Frank Reich, with Doug Pederson, they have so many coaches on that staff that understand the development of a quarterback, both from an X and O's standpoint and a daily developmental standpoint as well. Carson Wentz went to about as good of a situation as you can go to as a young quarterback.
The 49ers situation is about Chip Kelly for the most part. This team will be running Chip Kelly’s offense. Offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins has more experience as a run game coordinator. Quarterbacks coach Ryan Day got his first NFL coaching experience with Kelly’s Eagles in 2015. Prior to that he had two years of OC/QB coach experience with Boston College, and his remaining 11 years of experience were other positions, and grad assistant work. Chip Kelly is clearly the focus for the quarterbacks.