Josh McDaniels announced this morning that he is staying in New England and is no longer a candidate for the 49ers opening. 

By John Sarianides

Josh McDaniels announced this morning that he has withdrawn his name for consideration for the San Francisco 49ers head coaching opening. McDaniels cited relocating his family as the primary reason for withdrawing his name for the job.

I believe McDaniels when he says that but I also think he realized that the 49ers situation is a mess. There is no stability in San Francisco right now and McDaniels  wasn’t willing to take a job working for a general manager and an owner that he doesn’t know or have a history with. 

49ers owner Jed York is going to be hiring his third coach in three years. He is the antithesis of Robert Kraft. He has no concept of stability or loyalty for that matter. York says all the right things, but the realty is, he’s lost. He doesn’t know what he wants and it is that lack of leadership that has hurt the 49ers the past three years.

Despite York being inept as an owner, there was plenty to like about the 49ers opening. The Niners will have the second overall pick in the draft as well as $48 million dollars worth of cap space. If the new general manager and coach take advantage of the high draft choice and the available cap space, the Niners rebuild could be a short term thing. 

McDaniels was what the 49ers needed. A young, smart, innovative coach with a championship pedigree. He has learned how to build a team from the two best coaches in football in Bill Belichick and Nick Saban. If McDaniels trusted York and thought the opportunity in San Francisco was a good one, he would have taken the job. Obviously he doesn’t so McDaniels will come back to New England next season, coach Tom Brady, win games and reassess things next off-season.

McDaniels is young enough that he can be selective when it comes to head coaching openings. The right job will open up and when it does, McDaniels will take it. Until then, he should stay in New England, coach Brady and compete for Super Bowls. 

Photo Credit: Elise Amendola/AP