NFL Rumors: Jim Tomsula to succeed Jim Harbaugh with San Francisco 49ers

The curious case of Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers front office doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon and despite taking the team to three NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl in his three years, discussions on an extension have not advanced.

Meanwhile, Harbaugh has heard his name mentioned in connection with college jobs and in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

Could the 49ers be playing out Harbaugh’s contract and already have a fallback plan on the current coaching staff? That may be the case according to Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report.

“The 49ers and Jim Harbaugh have good reasons to work things out and find common ground. And they very well may. But if they don’t, the team already may have Harbaugh’s replacement in place for 2015. Indications are 49ers upper management thinks very highly of defensive line coach Jim Tomsula.”

“It is important to note Tomsula was with the 49ers prior to Harbaugh’s arrival and in fact served as interim head coach for one game after the firing of Mike Singletary. Tomsula also has prior head coaching experience in NFL Europe.”

Harbaugh has not stayed very long at any of his previous coaching stops, so perhaps there will be a mutual parting when his deal expires and if so, then we will see if Tomsula is considered for the job.