Bad news, 49ers fans. A fan asked Matt Maiocco for an update on the status of quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello, and Maiocco tweeted that the 49ers expect he will get the Denver Broncos offensive coordinator job. Scangarello interviewed for the job on Monday after reportedly being denied an interview the previous week.
There’s nothing set in stone or official at this time, but it looks like the 49ers are getting ready for a Scangarello departure to run his own offense. The work he did with Nick Mullens and Jimmy Garoppolo is a testament of his ability to not only identify quarterbacks (Mullens) but also develop them in limited time for Kyle Shanahan’s system (Garoppolo).
If this is the outcome, the 49ers will have a vacant quarterbacks coach position. Maiocco reported Wednesday morning the team would likely replace him from within their existing coaching staff. He specifically mentioned run game coordinator Mike McDaniel and wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Mike LaFleur as candidates.
He mentioned that while McDaniel focuses on the run game, he also assists LaFleur with the wide receivers. If LaFleur got the bump, McDaniel might take over as wide receivers coach, or maybe offensive assistant Katie Sowers gets bumped up. She is a general offensive assistant, but has spent time working with the wide receivers.
Prior to joining the 49ers, Scangarello’s experience was almost entirely at small colleges. He served as a quality control coach for the Atlanta Falcons in 2015 and as QC and assistant QB coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2009, but otherwise it was FCS or lower experience. The 49ers could have let him cut his chops under Kyle Shanahan in an expanded role, but this would offer Scangarello an opportunity to strike out on his own. Vic Fangio is a defensive-minded head coach, so this would provide Scangarello a chance to make a name for himself. He could learn plenty serving as a de facto OC for Shanahan, but he likely would rather not have Shanahan looking over his shoulder à la Andy Reid and his several offensive coordinators (who have gone on to become head coaches).
Like we’ve said, nothing is official yet, but if the 49ers are expecting him to get the job, it means they are already getting names together and planning for the future without Scangarello.
With Vic Fangio as head coach and now Scangarello apparently as offensive coordinator, the Denver Broncos may become an interesting team to watch when the 49ers aren’t playing in 2019.