The fall-out to Jim Tomsula’s sacking

SEE the reaction to 49ers head coach’s sacking following the season end, and what it means for Jarryd Hayne’s career.

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 27: Jarryd Hayne #38 of the San Francisco 49ers warm ups before an NFL game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on December 27, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)

JIM Tomsula was given just one season to turn it on in San Francisco with the axe falling immediately after closing out a 5-11 season with a win.

Jarryd Hayne’s first NFL coach will now be replaced, meaning the Australian faces learning to work under a completely new system, and once again prove that he is capable of meeting what is required of him to make the 49ers 53-man roster.

One man that knows the brutality of a 49ers axing all too well is the man who preceded Tomsula — Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh was at the helm for three relatively successful seasons, before a mediocre fourth led to his sacking in 2014, as the Niners finished with a 8-8 record.

After news of Tomsula’s firing broke, Harbaugh Tweeted a poignant message to the men in charge of his old franchise, appearing to take at stab at their decision to promote Tomsula over him for the 2015 season.

Do not be deceived. You will reap what you sow.

— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) January 4, 2016

The Michigan Wolverines head coach had an ugly breakup with the Niners, so it’s no surprise that he pounced on the opportunity to bag the franchise and his replacement.

No sooner had the door closed on Tomsula’s career at the 49ers than speculation started as to who would be his replacement. Here is the reaction to the coach’s removal.

THE CONTENDERS

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton is one of a number of possible replacements for Tomsula.

A NUMBER of potential candidates have been put up as possible replacements for the 49ers head coaching role, including former San Francisco offensive co-ordinator Mike Holmgren. These are the front runners for the new role.

Mike Holmgren

Holmgren worked for the Bay Area side from 1986 until 1991, initially starting as quarterback coach then progressing to offensive co-ordinator. The former USC quarterback took on his first head coaching role in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, whom he led to two NFC championships, as well as a Super Bowl title. Holmgren later took the reins at the Seattle Seahawks, where he won just one NFC championship in his 10 seasons as head coach.

Most recently, the 67-year-old was the team president for the Cleveland Browns.

Chip Kelly

Recently sacked Philadelphia Eagles head coach Kelly was also named as a potential replacement, however after being fired in December last year when the Eagles finished their season a 6-9, he may not be the best man to resolve the coaching woes at the 49ers.

During his three seasons in Philadelphia, Kelly finished the first two with records of 10-6, and claimed the NFC Eastern Division Championship in 2013.

Mike Shanahan

The most decorated of the 49ers potential new staff, Shanahan has two Super Bowl titles with the Denver Broncos to his name, as well as one while offensive co-ordinator at the 49ers in 1994. The 63-year-old has been involved in four AFC and one NFC championships, and also spent a season as head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders. Most recently, Shanahan was head coach of the Washington Redskins, before being fired in 2013.

Sean Payton

The current New Orleans Saints coach is also on the 49ers radar. Payton has been with the Saints since 2006 — the year in which he won NFL Coach of the Year. The California local has one Super Bowl title under his belt, as well as the NFC Championship from the same year. Prior to working for the Saints, Payton held an assistant or specialist role at three other NFL franchises since moving to the major league in 1997.

HAYNE STAYS QUIET

It is no surprise he didn’t want to comment.

JARRYD Hayne allegedly said he would like Tomsula to stay on as head coach, but declined to comment further on the sacking.

He did however, make comment on his first year in the NFL.

“It is what it is,” Hayne said.

“Overall, the year I’ve had, and to be part of this team, it’s been incredible. More than I could have ever imagined.”

The former NRL star posted a photo to his Twitter account, celebrating his team’s win to cap off the season.

“What a way to finish the year! Blessed to be apart of the @49ers franchise. The love and support has been great. Forever thankful. #49ersfaithful,” the caption read.

‘NO ONE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SURPRISED’

He didn’t have the easiest franchise to work with.

MEDIA reaction to Tomsula’s sacking was mixed, however most critics did identify the lack of depth in the San Francisco squad as playing a major role in the coach’s downfall.

Will Branson of CBS Sports was sympathetic towards the sacked coach, saying he was doomed from the get go.

“Tomsula was hamstrung by the 49ers from the start, taking the keys to a team that lost key players this off-season,” Branson wrote.

“On the field, it went as poorly as one could have imagined with Colin Kaepernick so dreadful he was benched for former Jaguars first-round pick Blaine Gabbert.

“No one is making excuses for Tomsula or claiming 2015 was anything other than a disastrous year, but it was a borderline miracle the 49ers won five games this season.”

James Brady of SB Nation agreed with Branson’s sentiment.

“Some will say he got a raw deal in San Francisco and others will say he never should have been hired in the first place. What’s certain is that he inherited a team coming off one of the worst offseasons in NFL history,” Brady wrote.

San Jose Mercury News’ Mark Purdy showed slightly less sympathy for Tomsula, labelling it an “inevitability”.

“No one should have been surprised. What was obvious is that Tomsula can’t realistically be thought of as the guy who will get the 49ers back to the play-offs in the immediate or even distant future,” Purdy wrote.

But Purdy did not lay sole blame on the front man, highlighting the 49ers administration issues, as well as a lack of squad depth as a major contributor to their poor season.

“Coaching wasn’t the only 49ers issue this season. There are problems with the 49ers’ front office and management structure that need to be examined and healed and solved. But coaching was somewhere to start.

“The 49ers’ roster of 2015 was not a play-off roster. But it should have had at least two or three more victories. And more than the wins and losses, it was simply the sloppy way the team looked on too many Sundays that cast doubt on Tomsula’s ability to prepare a NFL team.”

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID

49ers’ safety Eric Reid said players “loved” Jim Tomsula.

THE majority of San Francisco players remained quiet on the Tomsula issue when questioned after the match, and the players that did respond were hesitant to say the least.

“I think it would be unfortunate if this was his last game,” safety Eric Reid said. “We love playing for him.”

“It’s rare in this league that you get a coach that truly, genuinely cares about his players.

“We all understand it’s a business and that’s part of it, but he’s one of the rare coaches in my football experience that you look him in the eyes and when he asks you how you’re doing, he really wants to know how you’re doing.

“I think that’s why the players love him so much.”

Phil Dawson, the placekicker that kicked the winning field goal in their 19-16 victory over the St. Louis Rams said Tomsula was “a fun guy to play for”.

While tight end Vance McDonald said the coach was the squad’s biggest supporter.

“He, more than anybody else, has been in our corner and just wants us to go out there and have fun,” McDonald said. “He’s just proud of us that we all stuck together.”

It is no surprise the players left much to the imagination. With the announcement so fresh, no one would want to thrust themselves into the limelight by giving Tomsula a bad wrap immediately after he was sacked.

Originally published as The fall-out to Jim Tomsula’s sacking