49ers fire Tomsula after one season
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – Jim Tomsula was fired by the San Francisco 49ers Sunday night after one disappointing season, with an announcement just more than two hours after the season finale.
Elevated from his defensive line coaching duties in an unconventional, surprising promotion by CEO Jed York last January, Tomsula went 5-11 as the Niners missed the playoffs for the second straight season. They were 8-8 a year ago in then-coach Jim Harbaugh’s fourth season before his “mutual” parting with the franchise, as the team described it.
York was scheduled to address the media Monday morning at Levi’s Stadium, where San Francisco rallied for a 19-16 overtime victory against St. Louis in Sunday’s finale, but was booed again by the home crowd.
“Jimmy has been a valuable member of the 49ers organization for the last nine years,” York said in a statement. “We all know he is a man of high character, and his contributions on the field and in our community have always been greatly appreciated. This entire organization is proud and grateful to have worked so closely alongside Jimmy. We all wish him and his family great success in the future.”
Two years, two head coaches named Jim out for the once-proud franchise.
Tomsula waved and signed autographs upon walking into the stadium before kickoff, then kept the focus on his players after the win.
York, who didn’t speak publicly about the team’s turmoil during the season, chose Tomsula last year to replace Harbaugh over departed defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and now-Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Before a home game against the Bengals last month, a plane flew over Levi’s Stadium with a banner that read “Hold Jed Accountable,” a reference to his remarks at the end of the 2014 season inviting everyone to do so. On Sunday, the message flying overhead read: “Jed Here’s Our Banner — Where’s Yours?”
York has often given the benefit of the doubt to general manager Trent Baalke, who just completed his fifth season as GM and 11th with the franchise.
The 49ers avoided their worst record since going 4-12 in 2005 during coach Mike Nolan’s first season and with Alex Smith as the rookie quarterback.
Now, the coaching search begins again.