The 49ers' Houston connection helped sway free-agent defensive lineman Earl Mitchell to sign with San Francisco instead of the three other teams that heavily pursued him last week.
When Mitchell visited Santa Clara, he met with defensive line coach Jeff Zgonina, an assistant defensive line coach with the Houston Texans in 2013 and someone who played 17 NFL seasons as a defensive tackle.
Mitchell, 29, also noted the 49ers had hired former linebacker DeMeco Ryans, who played six seasons in Houston, including two when Mitchell was on the team.
"I know the type of player he is.