Jett Modkins, a special teams assistant for the Detroit Lions since 2021, completed an interview Sunday with the 49ers to be their special teams coordinator.
Modkins, 39, has been the assistant to Detroit special teams coordinator for the past four seasons. The 49ers fired special teams coordinator Brian Schneider after three seasons last week.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said moving deposed defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen to the special teams opening was a possibility if Sorensen was amenable. There’s also the issue of interviewing a minority candidate for the position, of which Modkins qualifies.
Shanahan said last week the plan was to elevate passing game coordinator Klay Kubiak to offensive coordinator. The 49ers made no announcement regarding the hire, and CBS Sports reported the 49ers were required under the Rooney Rule to interview two diverse external candidates.
The 49ers are also in the market for a defensive coordinator and have already interviewed two minority candidates in Robert Saleh, their former defensive coordinator from 2017 through 2021, and DeShea Townsend, who is a defensive backs coach also with the Lions.
Modkins is the son of Minnesota assistant coach Curtis Modkins. Jett Modkins played at Glendale (Arizona) Community College and Kent State and spent the 2020 season with Denver as the Broncos’ diversity coaching intern.
