The San Francisco 49ers coach who last month said Jarryd Hayne "needs to learn how to play football" has been sacked.
Thomas McGaughey, the 49ers' special teams coordinator, who lost faith in Hayne as a punt returner after six regular season games, is the latest casualty of the NFL team's staff purge, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Hayne will have an opportunity to start fresh with Derius Swinton, a 30-year-old former assistant special teams coach with the Chicago Bears, expected to fill McGaughey's job.
When Hayne returns to 49ers' headquarters in April he will be met by an overhauled coaching staff.
It appears veteran running backs coach Tom Rathman will be one of the few faces he will recognise.
Head coach Jim Tomsula was replaced by former Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly and offensive coordinator Geep Chryst was booted for former Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills running backs coach Curtis Modkins.
Defensive coordinator Eric Mangini was also fired along with other position coaches and assistants after the 49ers finished last in the NFC West conference and missed the playoffs with an 11 loss, five win record.
While Hayne was reinstated as a running back for the final two games of the season after a stint on the practice squad, McGaughey declined to play him as a punt returner on the special teams unit.
"It just didn't work out," McGaughey said last month.
It is at punt and kick returner where Chryst and other NFL veterans have said Hayne has the brightest future as he can utilise the high ball catching skills and speed that made him one of the NRL's most dangerous players.
Hayne could have trouble earning a running back spot with the 49ers as the team will be loaded with options, including Carlos Hyde and the two free agent signings who impressed in the last half of the season, Shaun Draughn and DuJuan Harris.
The 49ers also have running backs Mike Davis and Kendall Gaskins, although veteran Reggie Bush is unlikely to return.
The 49ers usually take just three running backs into a game.
Share
