Hiring a first-time general manager is one route the 49ers are exploring in their search to replace Trent Baalke.
Chris Ballard and Nick Caserio, the respective player personnel directors for the Kansas City Chiefs and the New England Patriots, emerged Monday morning as interview candidates, according to multiple reports, including the Sacramento Bee.
Although the next general manager likely will be tasked with hiring the 49ers' fourth coach in four seasons, the 49ers have a small window to interview assistants who are in the playoffs, so it should be no surprise they're among three teams linked to Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Fox Sports reported that McDaniels will interview with the 49ers, Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars, doing so from the Patriots facility in Foxborough, Mass.
The Patriots and Chiefs won their respective divisions. Two hours after finishing a 2-14 season with a home loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers confirmed they had fired Baalke after seven seasons as personnel czar and Kelly after his first season as coach.
Jed York, the 49ers CEO, will address the media at 10 a.m. for the first time in a formal press conference since last January after he fired Jim Tomsula, who went 5-11 in his lone season after replacing Jim Harbaugh.
McDaniels was the Denver Broncos coach from 2009-10. He balked at the 49ers' overtures two years ago, and he comes with a strong recommendation from Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
"I see why there is a lot of interest and there should be because I think he's the best in the NFL," Brady said Monday on Boston radio's WEEI. "Great coaches get opportunities and he's fortunate to be in a position where he should get them because he's earned it. I would hate to lose him, but I think it's always aspirational for a coach because it's great to lead a team, lead an organization."
Beside Caserio, another possible GM candidate with links to McDaniels and the Patriots is Scott Pioli, who worked in the Patriots' personnel department from 2000-08. Pioli spent 2009-12 as the Chiefs GM, and he's been the Atlanta Falcons assistant general manager the past three seasons. Pioli was at Levi's Stadium on Wednesday scouting the Foster Farms Bowl.
The 49ers haven't shopped for both a general manager and coach since 2005, following a 2-14 season that led to the firings of Terry Donahue and Dennis Erickson. Mike Nolan was subsequently hired as coach and Scot McCloughan as their personnel czar.
Other potential GM candidates, according to Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, are ESPN analyst Louis Riddick (a 1991 49ers draft pick as a safety), Minnesota assistant general manager George Paton, and Seattle co-player personnel directors Trent Kirchner and Scott Fitterer.
