Could 49ers hire Jim Tomsula or Bryant Young to fill new vacancy?

SANTA CLARA — Jeff Zgonina is reportedly out as 49ers defensive line coach, creating a vacancy and excitement over potential replacements.

Do the 49ers promote from within and re-assign Chris Kiffin, who joined Kyle Shanahan’s staff last season as their pass-rush specialist and has familiarity with the defensive line?

Or, more fascinating, could the 49ers turn back the clock to, (a), Jim Tomsula, their long-time defensive line coach before his 2015 stint as head coach, or, (b) Bryant Young, one of their all-time great players who’s spent the past two seasons coaching the Atlanta Falcons’ defensive linemen.

Tomsula, according to 106.7 The Fan, wants out of Washington after two seasons there. He took 2016 off — and went silent with most 49ers staffers — after going 6-11 as Jim Harbaugh’s replacement as 49ers coach.

While Tomsula’s return could be far fetched, Young’s availability is unknown, as he was not among those ousted when the Falcons fired their coordinators earlier this month.

Another potential option: Jacob Burney, who coached the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive line the past three seasons and previously served in that capacity in Washington on Mike Shanahan’s staff that included Kyle Shanahan.

Zgonina played 17 seasons in the NFL before joining the coaching ranks with the Houston Texans (2013), the New York Giants (2016) and then the 49ers (2017-18). His departure was first reported Sunday by Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio; the 49ers did not immediately confirm the move.

A day after the 49ers finished last season with a 4-12 record, Shanahan said he did not plan any substantial changes to his staff. Since then, however, the 49ers have dismissed strength coach Ray Wright and head trainer Jeff Ferguson; secondary coach Jeff Hafley left to join Ohio State’s staff.

— Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner’s path to his first Pro Bowl appearance may have opened up Sunday. Buckner is a Pro Bowl alternate and potentially could sub for Philadelphia Eagles’ Fletcher Cox, who sustained a foot injury in their playoff game at New Orleans.

Share this: Print

View more on The Mercury News