49ers news: 5 assistants who could be gone in 2022

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Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel of the San Francisco 49ers (Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images) /

No. 2: 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel

After being something of an unknown commodity deep within Kyle Shanahan’s coaching staff before 2021, first-year offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel suddenly popped into the limelight after serving as the Niners’ run game coordinator, previously.

That limelight was surely aided by this compilation of rather humorous media sessions:

I hope the Vikings hire 49ers OC Mike McDaniel, simply for the press conference vibes pic.twitter.com/y221Gv4qPT
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) January 12, 2022

The Miami Dolphins appear to be hot on McDaniel’s trail to fill their head-coaching void left by the recently fired Brian Flores, and the Dolphins would surely be happy to land the coordinator who helped engineer the NFL’s seventh-best rushing offense during the regular season.

For what it’s worth, Miami finished third worst in that same category.

While Shanahan has been the primary play designer and play-caller for San Francisco during his reign, there’s no shortage of support claiming just how vital McDaniel has been in strengthening the offense.

Losing him would unquestionably be a big blow to the 49ers.