SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers interviewed Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay for the team’s vacant head coaching job and Carolina assistant general manager Brandon Beane for the GM job on Monday.
CEO Jed York met with McVay first and then sat down with Beane later as part of his cross-country interview tour to find replacements for fired coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke following a 2-14 season that tied the worst mark in franchise history.
McVay is the grandson of former Niners executive John McVay, who teamed with coach Bill Walsh to build a dynasty in San Francisco. Walsh hired McVay as director of player personnel when he took over as coach in 1978. McVay was part of the organization for five Super Bowl titles.
The 30-year-old Sean McVay is the youngest offensive coordinator in the league. He has filled that role the past three seasons in Washington and has helped developed a unit that finished third in total offense and second in passing offense this past season.
McVay also spent three years as tight ends coach and one season as an offensive assistant in Washington before being promoted to coordinator in 2014.
McVay is the fourth candidate to interview for the coaching job and all come from the offensive side of the ball. York has also met with New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Buffalo interim coach Anthony Lynn, who was offensive coordinator before replacing Rex Ryan for the final game this season.
Beane has spent the past two seasons as assistant general manager in Carolina under Dave Gettleman. He was director of football operations for the Panthers the previous seven years and helped build the team that went to the Super Bowl last season.
Beane also served as interim general manager in 2012 after Marty Hurney was fired six games into the season.
The Niners have interviewed four other general manager candidates: Indianapolis vice president of football operations Jimmy Raye III, Minnesota assistant GM George Paton, Green Bay director of football operations Eliot Wolf and Packers director of player personnel Brian Gutekunst.
York said he was open to hiring either the coach or general manager first. He said the primary goal in the search is finding a coach and general manager who can work well together.
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