Niners' last-minute win earns coach a contract

Matt Miaocco, The Press Democrat

SAN FRANCISCO - The 49ers played host to one of just three games around the NFL that did not involve a playoff team or any postseason ramifications.

While the truly important happenings were taking place on the field at most NFL venues, the significance to the future of the 49ers was not on display for all to see at Candlestick Park. Shortly after Joe Nedney kicked the game-winning 39-yard field goal on the final play of the game to lift the 49ers to a 27-24 victory over the Washington Redskins on Sunday, the most noteworthy development of the day occurred. The 49ers' locker room erupted into jubilation when newly crowned team president Jed York delivered the news everybody expected to hear. Mike Singletary will be retained as 49ers head coach for 2009. Singletary signed a four-year, $10 million contract, said a source close to the negotiations. "I don't think we could've written up a script any better than how it happened," York said.

The 49ers finished the season with a 7-9 record, winning five of their final seven games under Singletary's direction. The 49ers fired Mike Nolan on Oct. 20 after the club started the season with a 2-5 record. "I think they've got the right man for the job," 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis said. "I'm glad he got the job. He deserved it. He earned it." The NFL mandates that teams have to wait until after the final game of the season to promote an interim coach to a permanent decision. The 49ers quickly made it official, as they distributed a press release announcing Singletary's appointment as the media were filing into an area set aside for the head coach's postgame interview. "If you know which way you're going, get it done," 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan said. "He showed that there was a change, but he was able to adjust to the change, step right in and not really skip a beat. The players around him stepped up. The coaches around him stepped up as well. We ended strong, but it's not close to where we need to get. With coach Singletary we feel that's not going to be an issue."

York's announcement in the locker room was met with cheers. Nedney said he did not want comment on what the reaction would've been if Singletary had been passed over for the job."I knew it wasn't going to happen," Nedney said. "He's honest, intense and forthright. You have to have those qualities to bring together the chemistry of a team." York said he told the team that this would be the last time they end their season in December. Singletary also has the expectations of the 49ers being a playoff team next season, and he is promises that he will not take any shortcuts to get there.

"I think all the guys who are happy today are going to regret it," Singletary quipped. Singletary said it is important to get everybody on the same page. When asked about the content of that page, Singletary said, "The first paragraph on that page is what we have to do to get the team in the playoffs. Once we're in the playoffs, anything is possible." The 49ers have experienced a franchise-worst six consecutive losing seasons. Many in the organization believed Singletary did not have a strong chance to get the job when he took over for Nolan because management preferred to have a coach with an offensive background. However, Singletary's body of work took the guesswork out of it. Still, there is no clear indication of how Singletary plans to find stability with his offensive staff. Given an opportunity to declare offensive coordinator Mike Martz would return next season, Singletary declined.

When asked if he has made up his mind about Martz's future, Singletary said, "No, not 100 percent." Singletary has the contractual power to hire and fire his assistant coaches. But he said he would meet with McCloughan to discuss those decisions. Martz was on top of his game on Sunday. When the 49ers took over at their own 27-yard line in a tie game with 62 seconds remaining, Martz called all the right shots and quarterback Shaun Hill delivered.

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