The 49ers and Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson held what was described as a productive meeting Sunday morning, a source told CSNBayArea.com.
Jackson has emerged as a serious candidate to replace Jim Tomsula as the 49ers’ head coach. Tomsula was fired after the 49ers went 5-11 in his only season after replacing Jim Harbaugh last January.
The 49ers have yet to make an offer to any candidate, the source said. Jackson had a brief break after speaking with 49ers CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke before taking part in an interview with the Cleveland Browns in Cincinnati.
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The Bengals were eliminated from the playoffs Saturday night with an 18-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC wild-card playoff game.
Although the source said the 49ers probably would not to make a hire Sunday, the new 49ers coach is expected to be in place “fairly soon.”
Jackson is the fifth candidate to interview with the 49ers in the past four days. Former Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly, Buffalo assistant head coach/running backs Anthony Lynn, Cleveland offensive coordinator John DeFilippo and Tampa Bay offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter have also interviewed for the job. Koetter is believed to have had a strong interview on Saturday.
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The interview Sunday was the second time Jackson met with the 49ers in the past five years. Jackson was a candidate in 2011 when the 49ers ended up with Harbaugh. Jackson ended up getting promoted to Raiders head coach after being offensive coordinator under Tom Cable.
The Raiders finished in a three-way tie for the AFC West with an 8-8 record. The Denver Broncos won the tiebreaker, and the Raiders missed the playoffs. But the Raiders’ .500 record that season remains tied for the best mark by any Raiders club since 2002.
Raiders owner Al Davis, who hired Jackson passed away during the season. Mark Davis, who took over operation of the club, hired general manager Reggie McKenzie. Jackson was fired after McKenzie took over.
