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2020 Assistant Coach News

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Kevin Stefanski has been so busy hiring assistants that time is flying until he can officially hire 49ers defensive backs coach Joe Woods as his defensive coordinator after the Super Bowl.

“I have no problem waiting,’’ Stefanski said Wednesday night at the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards.

Stefanski worked with Woods for eight years in Minnesota, and is eager to bring him on board.

“[He’s] another one of those great coaches I’ve been around among many guys,’’ he said. “But he’s in the Super Bowl, which is the ultimate that we’re all trying to get to, so I’ll wait to talk about any of those scenarios until after that Super Bowl.’’

Stefanski is also holding off on hiring some of his defensive assistants until Woods is in the house and able to add some of his own guys. Incumbent Brown defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker, for instance, is ‘under consideration’ to remain with the Browns
, but interviewed with the Eagles on Wednesday and could be gone by the time Woods is officially hired.

Bill Callahan as senior advisor

Stefanski acknowledged that Bill Callahan, former head coach of the Raiders and interim coach of the Redskins, will serve as a senior offensive assistant and mentor as well as offensive line coach.


“Yes, and that’s the idea behind bringing coach Callahan here,’’ Stefanski said. “He’s been there, he’s done that at the collegiate level, at the pro level, so I’m going to lean heavily on him among other guys on the staff, but coach Callahan brings a very unique perspective and I just like to be surrounded by smart people.’’

He noted that “I’m excited to add him to the mix. He’s a great teacher, first and foremost. He and I had a lot of mutual friends, so I understand the man and he understands me, and what we’re looking for, what we’re looking to do. Ultimately, just having someone of his stature is very important.’’

Stefanski, who’s also hired former Dolphins offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea as receivers coach and passing game coordinator, confirmed that special teams coordinator Mike Priefer and his assistant Doug Colman are staying, as well as running backs coach Stump Mitchell.

“So some really good coaches I think are going to contribute to our success going forward,’’ he said.

As for Mitchell, he said, “I like the way he teaches. I like the toughness that he brings to our staff room to the field, and I think the proof is in the pudding, he had two really good players playing this year, so I think he’s an excellent coach and excited that he’s a part of our future.’’

OC or no OC

Stefanski said he doesn’t know yet if he’ll hire an offensive coordinator
. He’s interviewed former Broncos OC Rich Scangarello but hasn’t hire him yet.

“It’s not like we’ve said we’re not hiring an offensive coordinator,’’ he said. “We’re just trying to work through it and make sure we add the right people.’’
 
So they asked about woods but not mike McDaniel?

For what it’s worth, it appears that McDaniel is not a free agent to be and there hasn’t been nearly as much public connection with him and the Browns via the media.

He is a guy that a lot of fans certainly would like, but unlike Woods, that one is not in the Browns or McDaniel’s control either.

Not that the media bringing it up would necessarily hurt the chances of it happening, it’s just not something that has been widely accepted as even a possibility by the media.
 
“Yes, and that’s the idea behind bringing coach Callahan here,’’ Stefanski said. “He’s been there, he’s done that at the collegiate level, at the pro level, so I’m going to lean heavily on him among other guys on the staff, but coach Callahan brings a very unique perspective and I just like to be surrounded by smart people.’’

Love this. Stefanski is secure enough that he's not threatened by having other smart/super-competent people around, and in fact prefers it because he knows it will motivate everybody to raise their game another level.
 
Love this. Stefanski is secure enough that he's not threatened by having other smart/super-competent people around, and in fact prefers it because he knows it will motivate everybody to raise their game another level.

Love this! From all reports we've heard this was Dorsey's downfall.
 
San Fran pining to keep Woods would likely require 3 things:

1. A belief that Saleh is a HC after 2020
2. A title upgrade to AST/DC or something of the like
3. 2-3x the money he was making

DC jobs typically land guys around the $1 mil mark on a per year basis. Position coaches are making 1/3rd of that, on the high end.

Money also ignores the added responsibility and career ladder jump.

If Stefanski is publicly talking about Woods, and they have a pre-existing friendship and professional relationship, it would be pretty surprising for Woods to then back out of such a promotion. Seems incredibly unlikely.
 
San Fran pining to keep Woods would likely require 3 things:

1. A belief that Saleh is a HC after 2020
2. A title upgrade to AST/DC or something of the like
3. 2-3x the money he was making

DC jobs typically land guys around the $1 mil mark on a per year basis. Position coaches are making 1/3rd of that, on the high end.

Money also ignores the added responsibility and career ladder jump.

If Stefanski is publicly talking about Woods, and they have a pre-existing friendship and professional relationship, it would be pretty surprising for Woods to then back out of such a promotion. Seems incredibly unlikely.

Agreed on all fronts.

I can't imagine Stefanski would have been willing to talk about the guy on the record to the media if he wasn't dead certain he was going to join the coaching staff.

Plus it appears Woods will have a huge say in who will be on the defensive staff considering the Browns did not retain a single defensive assistant from last year's staff.

There's a lot of reasons for him to accept the job, none bigger than he's has already appears to accept it privately.
 
Oh thank God. This isn’t Pokémon, Browns. Can’t catch them all.

Last I heard the Stefanski family is taking hot dish with tater tots with them to Cleveland, and Minnesota can't have it again. Don't blame the messenger.
 

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