49ers fire coach Nolan, give job to assistant Singletary
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
Updated: October 20, 2008, 8:52 PM ET
Seven games into the NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers have fired head coach Mike Nolan.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that they have offered the job to assistant head coach Mike Singletary and he has accepted. The two sides are working on a suitable contract.
Lost Gold
After two straight losses to the Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs, George Seifert, who won two Super Bowls with the 49ers, resigned. Since then, things haven't been the same for the franchise that enjoyed one of the greatest runs in NFL history. Mike Nolan was the third coach since Seifert and only Steve Mariucci has a winning record and any playoff appearances.
49ers Head Coaches Since 1997 W-L Playoff App.
2005-08,
Mike Nolan 18-37 0
2003-04,
Dennis Erickson 9-23 0
1997-2002,
Steve Mariucci 57-39 4
The firing came late Monday afternoon after Nolan met with ownership. Earlier Monday, ESPN's Michael Smith reported that Nolan was going to be fired after next Sunday's game and be replaced by Singletary. Whether that story sped up the process or not, it was clear that Nolan's days were numbered following Sunday's 29-17 loss to the New York Giants in the Meadowlands.
49ers ownership was noticeably upset following that loss, which accelerated talk of change. The 49ers play the Seahawks Sunday and then have a bye week, which is a convenient time to make a coaching change. Apparently, the York family didn't want to wait.
Nolan, 49, was 18-37 as head coach of the 49ers. Though the offense improved its scoring under the play-calling of offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the defense, which is Nolan's specialty, has been inconsistent all season.
The 49ers have had five straight losing seasons and are 4-12, 7-9 and 5-11 in three full seasons under Nolan, who was retained after last season.
Nolan was in the fourth year of a five-year, $8.5 million contract. For most of his career, he was in charge of personnel but he lost that ability after last season.
Scot McCloughan, their top personnel executive, was formally annointed as general manager with a contract extension and a raise.
Nolan and McCloughan have made joint decisions on personnel issues, but McCloughan has had the final say.
"I will remain the one voice in this organization, and the face," Nolan said at the conclusion of the 2007 season. "I don't believe it will change at all. The important thing is that we will maintain the relationship."
Singletary has been coaching the 49ers linebackers since 2005. The Hall-of-Fame linebacker from the Bears spent 11 seasons as one of the best on-the-field leaders in football. Now, for nine games, he gets a chance to see what he can do running an entire team.
John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3654528
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