SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have officially appointed Brant Boyer, the former special teams coordinator for the New York Jets, to lead their special teams unit, which has been facing ongoing challenges under head coach Kyle Shanahan. This decision was made after Shanahan parted ways with Brian Schneider, the previous coordinator, following a disappointing season that saw the team finish with a 6-11 record largely impacted by errors in the kicking game.
In his previous role, Boyer showcased his ability to enhance special teams over nine seasons with the Jets, navigating through three different head coaches. His tenure was marked by significant achievements, such as leading the Jets’ special teams to tie for second in the league with nine touchdowns and securing eight blocked punts, ranking them second. His success also extended to kick return coverage, where his unit ranked fifth, and he mentored multiple players who earned All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selections.
Boyer’s background includes serving as an assistant special teams coach for the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2015 prior to his time with the Jets, and he boasts an 11-year playing career in the NFL. His appointment comes in the wake of numerous crucial special teams errors that heavily influenced San Francisco’s losses last season. Notable mistakes included allowing a fake punt that led to a Rams’ scoring drive and missing a potential game-winning field goal.
Throughout the season, the 49ers encountered recurrent issues, such as a blocked punt, a kickoff return for a touchdown, and multiple fumbles during returns. The team’s struggles culminated in a final game against Arizona that had further special teams blunders.
A significant aspect of San Francisco’s special teams woes was the inconsistency of kicker Jake Moody, who converted only 5 out of 14 field goals from distances of 40 yards or more in the latter part of the season after recovering from an ankle injury. The 49ers selected Moody in the third round of the 2023 draft, and he experienced a roller-coaster rookie season.
In addition to the special teams overhaul, the Niners are making substantial changes to Shanahan’s coaching staff. Recently, they brought back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator for a second stint, following his three-plus years as the Jets’ head coach, where he collaborated closely with Boyer. The team is also in the process of interviewing candidates to fill the offensive coordinator position, which has been unoccupied since Mike McDaniel departed to lead the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 season. It is anticipated that passing game specialist Klay Kubiak will likely receive a promotion to this role.
