Report: Solari to join offensive staff
The Green Bay Packers reportedly are adding some experience to their offensive coaching staff with former San Francisco 49ers offensive line coach Mike Solari joining the organization in an undisclosed role, according to Fox Sports.
Solari, 60, has coached more than 25 years in the NFL, spending the past five seasons with the 49ers. It was his second stint with the team after serving as tight ends and assistant offensive line coach from 1992 to 1996.
He worked with Packers coach Mike McCarthy on the Kansas City Chiefs' staff in 1997 and 1998. McCarthy was Kansas City's quarterbacks coach and Solari coached the offensive line.
Although it's unknown what exact role Solari will have in Green Bay, he seems like a logical candidate to become the new assistant offensive line coach after Steve Marshall was named the New York Jets' offensive line coach last month.
Solari reportedly was still under contract with the 49ers, but the staff was given the chance to pursue other opportunities after defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was hired to replace Jim Harbaugh as head coach.
The 49ers apparently have moved on. They announced their 2015 coaching staff Monday with veteran Chris Foerster coaching the offensive line and former Youngstown State coach Eric Wolford acting as his assistant.
Solari received his first NFL job with the Dallas Cowboys in 1987 as an assistant offensive line coach and special-teams assistant. He's spent most of his career coaching offensive lines, including tenures with the Phoenix Cardinals (1989), the University of Alabama (1990-91), the Kansas City Chiefs (1997-2005) and Seattle Seahawks (2008-09).
After nearly a decade with the Chiefs, Solari spent his last two seasons in Kansas City as the offensive coordinator under Herm Edwards from 2006-07. His unit ranked a respectable 16th in total yards in 2006 before falling to 31st.
Solari's offensive lines were consistently productive during his time with the 49ers. San Francisco's rushing offense ranked inside the top five in total yards in each of the past three seasons, peaking at No. 3 in 2013 (137.6 yards per game).
He coached left tackle Joe Staley and left guard Mike Iupati to seven combined Pro Bowls since 2011.
It remains to be seen where Solari will fit on the coaching staff, but McCarthy hasn't been shy about bringing in experienced coaches in the past and finding roles. Last year, he hired former Illinois and Florida coach Ron Zook to be an assistant special-teams coach.
Zook is now the frontrunner to become the team's new special-teams coordinator following the firing of Shawn Slocum on Jan. 30.
McCarthy is expected to announce all the staff changes together after all of the coaching decisions are finalized.
—whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.