Report: Chip Kelly, Mike Shanahan express interest in 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are seemingly interested in every big-name coaching candidate now that they have fired Jim Tomsula, and the interest with at least two of those candidates is reportedly mutual.

According to Mike Silver and Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, representatives for both Chip Kelly and Mike Shanahan have reached out to the Niners. Kelly was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles last week and Shanahan last coached with the Washington Redskins in 2013.

With the New Orleans Saints seemingly open to trading Sean Payton to another team, the 49ers are said to have interest there as well.

If San Francisco is open to the idea of hiring Kelly or Shanahan, that could be good news for Colin Kaepernick. Both coaches have a good amount of experience with mobile quarterbacks, as Kelly always had quarterbacks who could run at Oregon and Shanahan had success with Robert Griffin III when Washington made the playoffs in RG3’s rookie season.

Back in November, reports made it seem like Kaepernick is all but finished with the 49ers. But just last month there was more optimism surrounding his future in the Bay Area.

Shanahan is also reportedly getting together with the Miami Dolphins this week for a second interview.