One of the higher-profile NFL coaching positions yet to be filled is the offensive coordinator post with the San Francisco 49ers.
According to the San Jose Mercury News, the 49ers lost out on Rob Chudzinski on Tuesday when he decided to remain as the Indianapolis Colts associate head coach, rather than accept the OC job in San Francisco.
Lane Kiffin was rumored to be a candidate for the job, but he announced his intentions to stay at Alabama under Nick Saban.
The Mercury News counted 11 candidates going to other NFL teams with offensive coordinator vacancies. Which begs the question: Is quarterback Colin Kaepernick a barrier to the 49ers' ability to land a top offensive aide under new coach Jim Tomsula?
49ers' hiring of Jim Tomsula ignores struggles of the offense and Colin Kaepernick?
Kaepernick's play has regressed in the two years after being named a starter midway through 2012 and taking San Francisco to the Super Bowl.
Kaepernick's passer rating has gone from 98.3 in his first year as a starter to 91.6 in 2013 and 86.4 last season. His 19-to-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2014 was his worst as a starter, and he was sacked 52 times.
"I've talked to people around the league, and it's not that people don't want the job," ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer said on 95.7 The Game, the Mercury News reported. "It's a really attractive job to a lot of people.
"People want to work with Kaepernick," Dilfer added, "especially with what they're hearing of what he's doing down here in Arizona with Dennis Gile and Kurt Warner, who are doing a great job with him. Colin is throwing the best he's thrown in his life."
San Francisco quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst and former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan reportedly are still being considered.
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