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San Francisco Eyes Detroit’s Rising Star to Revamp Struggling Special Teams
The San Francisco 49ers are actively searching for new leadership to improve their special teams unit, and their latest move involves tapping into the Detroit Lions’ successful coaching staff. On Sunday night, the 49ers announced they had interviewed Lions special teams assistant Jett Modkins for their vacant special teams coordinator role.
A Growing Trend: 49ers Target Lions’ Coaching Talent
Jett Modkins becomes the second Lions assistant to draw interest from the 49ers this offseason. Detroit’s coaching staff has been a popular target for teams seeking leadership, with high-profile names like defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Ben Johnson also receiving attention. Offensive line coach Hank Fraley interviewed with the Seattle Seahawks, while defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend already spoke with the 49ers for their defensive coordinator opening.
Adding Modkins to this list emphasizes how highly regarded the Lions’ coaching staff has become in the league.
Jett Modkins’ Path to the NFL Spotlight
Modkins has spent the last four seasons under Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp, contributing to one of the league’s top-performing units. His football roots run deep—his father, Curtis Modkins, is a long-time NFL coach who served as Detroit’s running backs coach from 2013-2015 before joining the 49ers as offensive coordinator. This family connection could make San Francisco a natural next step for Jett Modkins.
Before joining the Lions, Modkins spent the 2020 season with the Denver Broncos as a diversity coaching intern, assisting with the offense. His coaching journey began in 2019 as a defensive volunteer at the University of Akron.
San Francisco’s Urgent Need for Special Teams Improvement
The 49ers’ interest in Modkins stems from a pressing need to overhaul their struggling special teams. San Francisco recently fired special teams coordinator Brian Schneider after the unit endured a dismal season—ranking 31st in special teams DVOA, 28th in punting average, 31st in net punting average, and 27th in field goal percentage.
In contrast, Modkins played a significant role in helping the Lions finish first in special teams DVOA, first in both punting and net punting average, and eighth in field goal percentage. His track record in Detroit makes him a promising candidate to fix the 49ers’ glaring issues.
What’s Next for Modkins and the 49ers?
Currently, Jett Modkins is the only publicly known candidate for the 49ers’ special teams coordinator vacancy. While it’s unclear how far along the hiring process is, San Francisco’s early interest in Modkins signals that he could be a leading contender for the role.
Bringing in Modkins could provide the 49ers with fresh energy and strategic insight, potentially transforming their special teams into a strength rather than a liability.
As the 49ers continue their coaching search, all eyes will be on whether Jett Modkins will make the jump to San Francisco and bring his winning formula with him.