49ers decade in review: Ranking the 15 most infamous moments

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks tips the ball up in the air as outside linebacker Malcolm Smith #53 catches it to clinch the victory for the Seahawks against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /

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Jim Tomsula of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) /

No. 11: Jim Tomsula Tries His Best in 2015 but Fails

Jed York and the 49ers front office sure seemed to have a lot of confidence in placing their 2014 defensive line coach, Jim Tomsula, atop the entire coaching hierarchy after Jim Harbaugh left at the beginning of 2015.

The Niners organization long loved Tomsula, and many would argue his defensive lines always performed well above expectations regardless the levels of talent available.

As far as head coaching would go, the results were another matter.

Granted, Tomsula was being asked to handle what would be one of the worst offseasons in franchise history, watching a massive chunk of the team’s best talent depart — more on that later — and some would say the 5-11 finish amid what was a turbulent time in Santa Clara is actually a testament to Tomsula doing about as much as he possibly could.

Still, Tomsula took a far more relaxed approach with his players than his predecessor, Harbaugh, and the 49ers would go on to boast one of the poorest offenses in the league that season, highlighted by a lackluster and awfully boring year.

Tomsula was gone after one season.