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San Francisco 49ers: Short List of Head Coach Candidates in 2016

By Peter Panacy

Jan 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on the sideline in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Saints won 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton on the sideline in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Saints won 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 13, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. New Orleans Saints defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Sean Payton

Perhaps the most attractive name on the 49ers radar is current New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton.

Payton would, with little doubt, be the biggest name CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke could land in order to help offset the discontent felt from the Niner fans.

And both appear interested in attempting this, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortenson.

There are some problems though. Payton, while considered an offensive genius, has rarely benefited from the defensive side of the ball. He’ll need to land a top-tier defensive coordinator to round out the staff.

Even more crucial is the fact Payton is still the head coach of the Saints, and it doesn’t appear as if they’ll fire him any time soon as he is under contract for one more season.

This means San Francisco will likely have to send off some draft picks in exchange. Fortunately, the 49ers will have a good number of these. But will Payton want to hinder his new team in the draft?

Why He Fits:

The offensive mind is there as is the Super Bowl pedigree and experience. And Payton would put a lot of 49ers fans’ minds at ease knowing the team will be getting an established head coach with a solid track record.

Payton should be able to do some things with the current roster as well. Imagine him utilizing wide receiver Bruce Ellington in the same mold as New Orleans wideout Brandin Cooks.

Why He Doesn’t:

Payton will likely want to have some added control over the roster, and it’s hard to imagine him and Baalke seeing eye to eye, which potentially could lead to another Harbaugh vs. Baalke situation in Santa Clara.

Plus, the 49ers need all the help they can get this offseason. Parting ways with crucial draft picks could come back to haunt an already struggling San Francisco squad.

The Likelihood:

Payton seems to be the top choice for San Francisco this offseason, and it shouldn’t be much of a surprise to see the 49ers aggressively pursue him.

And the interest is mutual, per the Schefter and Mortenson report.

Next: A Primer for the 49ers 2016 Offseason

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com unless otherwise indicated.