Josh McDaniels pulls out of 49ers job, as they reportedly shift toward Kyle Shanahan

New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, considered to be among the best head-coaching candidates on the market entering the offseason, will pass at the chance to take the lone remaining position open, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported.

McDaniels confirmed the news Monday morning as he spoke with the media on a conference call.

This is obviously huge news for the Patriots and Tom Brady, who respect greatly what McDaniels offers their team. What a coup for the Patriots to keep Belichick, Brady, McDaniels, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and director of player personnel Nick Caserio, who was considered for the San Francisco 49ers’ vacant general manager position, all intact for at least the 2017 season.

No matter what, this is interesting news for the 49ers, whose only other known interviews have come with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan and Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach/assistant head coach Tom Cable.

Cable’s team lost to Shanahan’s team, so he’s available to be hired immediately. The 49ers would have to wait for Shanahan to lose to bring him on full time, thus missing out on the chance to put a staff together prior to the Senior Bowl, which is considered a big step in getting the scouting process going. (The 49ers still have not hired a GM either.) Can they afford to wait — potentially another few weeks — for Shanahan? Or is Cable their guy?

ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes Shanahan is their top target.

The 49ers lucked their way into what appeared to be a good spot: the last team currently seeking a head coach (although we’re still keeping an eye on the Indianapolis Colts). That meant they essentially could have their pick of the litter, but that group has shrunk by one candidate. McDaniels was viewed as the favorite at one point but apparently likes very much what he has going in New England. After all, who wouldn’t? You get to work with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick and compete for Super Bowl championships every season.

Of course, this might be as much about the 49ers’ job as anything else, although McDaniels said nice things about the job and meeting with the team’s higher-ups.

“I was really impressed with Jed York and Paraag [Marathe], and Brian [Hampton], and people that came for the 49ers organization,” per ESPN.com. “They did a great job with their presentation. Again, humbled to be included in that process. At this time, it’s just best for my family and myself to remain here in New England, and focus on this year’s playoffs and finish out the year however it turns out.”

It’s a full rebuild for sure, and with no quarterback in place. The next head coach will be the franchise’s fourth in four years, and Jed York might not be atop many candidates’ lists of owners they’d want to work with. Even with $70 million or more in salary cap space, plus the No. 2 pick in the draft, there are a ton of unknowns for the once-proud franchise.

We also don’t know if McDaniels was told by 49ers people that Shanahan was their favorite, thus allowing the Patriots coach to publicly back out before an announcement on the job is made. This frequently happens as a measure of respect for the candidates.

Shanahan missed out on the Denver Broncos’ job, but he could be a good fit for the 49ers, as he has done exemplary work with the Falcons’ offense as they get set to play for a spot in Super Bowl LI. With the opening in the 49ers’ front office, there also could be a role for his father, Mike Shanahan, even though those rumors have been quashed in the past.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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