Jan. 14--In a move that could have some NFL fans saying "who?" the San Francisco 49ers are on the verge of hiring defensive line coach Jim Tomsula as coach, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
The 49ers later announced Tomsula had been named their next head coach.
Tomsula, 46, the longest-tenured member of the 49ers coaching staff, is widely respected among players and considered one of the best position coaches in the league. He also spent one game as interim coach after the team fired Mike Singletary at the end of the 2010 season.
Before joining San Francisco in 2007, Tomsula coached in NFL Europe from 1998 to 2006, and was coach of the Rhein Fire for one season.
He'll face a lofty standard in replacing Harbaugh, who was 44-19-1 in four seasons, and took the 49ers to three consecutive NFC title games and a Super Bowl. Harbaugh had personality clashes with 49ers owner Jed York and General Manager Trent Baalke, however, and is now coach at the University of Michigan, his alma mater.
