George Seifert is walking away from his job as coach of the San Francisco 49ers, a startling departure signaling the overhaul of a team that won five Super Bowls and was known for its continuity.
California coach Steve Mariucci, a newcomer to the 49ers organization, but not their offensive system, is expected to be named as Seifert's successor and become just the third 49ers coach in 18 years.The formal announcement could come sometime today.
Seifert, with the 49ers organization for 17 years, including the last eight as head coach, led San Francisco to two of its Super Bowl victories and had the highest winning percentage by a coach in NFL history.
Sounding very much like Lou Holtz, Seifert on Wednesday said leaving was the right thing for him to do, a decision he arrived at in part during his just-concluded fishing trip to Mexico.
"Basically, there was a sense and a feel that there needs to be some changes made. I came back with the feeling that this was best for myself and for the 49ers," Seifert said Wednesday.
"This thing eventually had to come to an end. It's been a great eight years in a tough position," Seifert said. He added he'll fulfill the final year of his contract with the 49ers as a consultant to the team.
Team officials did not immediately announce a replacement, but all signs point to Mariucci as the next 49ers coach.
Team president Carmen Policy said no one currently on the 49ers coaching staff was considered for the job.
Mariucci also served notice to Cal officials that he was leaving, a school source said, and he spent much of Wednesday huddled with his players and coaches to let them know about his decision.
"He kind of told them the situation came up real abruptly," Cal running backs coach Wayne Moses said.
Policy had dinner with Mariucci on Sunday night, and wanted him to become 49ers offensive coordinator, with assurances he would become the head coach in a year or two. Mariucci declined that offer, but apparently received a call from Policy on Tuesday night about the head coaching job after Seifert informed him he was quitting.
"Before George's decision, all offers were related to the coordinating job. After Tuesday, we changed directions," Policy said.
Policy said the team had only one candidate in mind for the job. He declined to identify Mariucci as that individual, but did say the replacement was coming from outside the organization.
He said one reason the team was bringing in a newcomer was to lessen the pressure and defuse the "Super Bowl or die" mentality that has become associated with the 49ers.
"You have to understand he needs some time to establish his roots," Policy said. "I think you've got to give him a couple of years to really find himself in the framework of the NFL and more specifically in the framework of the 49ers."
Policy insisted he and 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo were surprised by the decision by Seifert, whom they had expected to be the team's coach in 1997.
Coaching changes have been rampant around the NFL. Seifert becomes the 10th coach to leave a team since the start of the 1996 season, meaning one-third of the teams have made changes.
Seifert, 57 next week, won Super Bowls in 1989 and 1994. With a record of 108-35, Seifert is the franchise's winningest coach and has a winning percentage of .755. He reached 100 victories faster than any NFL coach.
Mariucci was schooled in the 49ers system while working for Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren, a former offensive coordinator for San Francisco. He was an assistant for four years with the Packers, getting much of the credit for turning quarterback Brett Favre into a two-time NFL MVP.
Mariucci, 41, has been coaching for 18 years. His Cal team began the 1996 season with a 5-0 record, but lost six of its last seven games - including a defeat by Navy in the Aloha Bowl.
Certainly, Seifert's departure signals wide-ranging changes for the 49ers, whose season ended in a 35-14 playoff loss at Green Bay two weeks ago.
Defensive coordinator Pete Carroll, a candidate for the St. Louis Rams job, was passed over, and the move appears to seal the fate of offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, whose departure has been rumored after players grumbled about his play calls.