The San Francisco 49ers must fill three key coaching vacancies ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Following the NFL-mandated interview process, Klay Kubiak is expected to be promoted to Offensive Coordinator. Meanwhile, former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh has reportedly been offered the Defensive Coordinator position, according to NFL insider Josina Anderson. That leaves the Special Teams Coordinator role as the final vacancy, with no prominent target identified after the dismissal of Brian Schneider.
However, that may have changed on Sunday night.
As the NFL Wild Card round unfolded, the 49ers announced they had interviewed Detroit Lions assistant special teams coach Jett Modkins for the position.
Who is Jett Modkins?
Jett Modkins, son of former 49ers Offensive Coordinator Curtis Modkins, joined the Detroit Lions in 2021 and is now in his fourth season on their coaching staff.
During his tenure, Modkins has played a key role in shaping one of the NFL’s top special teams units. In 2024, the Lions’ special teams ranked first in DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average), fourth with an 88.9 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade, and fifth with a 27.3 EPA (Expected Points Added).
Among Modkins’ responsibilities has been working with second-team All-Pro return specialist Kalif Raymond, a promising sign for the 49ers’ 2024 fourth-round pick and primary punt returner, Jacob Cowing.
49ers Desperate for Special Teams Improvement
The 49ers’ special teams were abysmal in 2024, ranking among the worst in the league. According to EPA, they lost a league-worst 64 points. In DVOA, they ranked 31st.
Kicker Jake Moody, the league’s highest-drafted kicker, finished the season with a 70.6% field goal success rate, the second-worst among kickers with at least 23 attempts, according to PFF. On attempts of 40 yards or more, Moody hit just 10 of 20, the worst percentage in the NFL.
The team also struggled on kick coverage, allowing one of only seven kickoff returns for a touchdown this season. On punts, they gave up 261 return yards (11th worst) and ranked last in net yards per punt (39). Additionally, the 49ers pinned just 20 punts inside the 20-yard line, ranking 29th, and even suffered a blocked punt.
The team’s special teams woes cost them repeatedly. In Week 2 against the Vikings, a blocked punt led to a field goal in a game the 49ers lost 23-17. In Week 3, up 24-17 against the Rams, Jake Moody missed a critical field goal, followed by a 38-yard punt return by Xavier Smith that set up Los Angeles’ game-winning field goal. Even in their Week 10 victory over the Buccaneers, Moody missed three field goals, forcing the offense to mount a game-winning drive with just 41 seconds remaining.
A New Direction?
Given the 49ers’ struggles on special teams, fresh leadership is essential. The interview with Jett Modkins signals a potential new beginning for the team’s beleaguered unit.
