The pledge Kyle Shanahan made to Bobby Turner means the 49ers might not have running backs Tom Rathman on their staff for the first time since 2008.
On Thursday, Shanahan confirmed his running backs coach will be Turner, 67, who has spent six of the past seven seasons with him in Atlanta (2015-16) and Washington (2010-13). Shanahan said he told Turner he’d hire him as his running backs coach if he ever became a head coach.
As a result, Shanahan is hoping to convince Rathman to stay in Santa Clara in a different role.