SAN FRANCISCO—Eric Mangini has been named the San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator.
Continuing a trend of promoting from within, Mangini is leaping from his position of tight-ends coach to the other side of the ball, where he will oversee one of football’s most talented defenses.
![Mangini](http://www.canyon-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/image46.jpg)
Though Mangini has spent the past two seasons working with the San Francisco offense, the coach once dubbed “Man-genius” has a decorated defensive coaching career.
Mangini served as a defensive back coach for the Patriots between 2000 and 2004, coaching a talented defensive backfield featuring names such as Ty Law and Rodney Harrison, a unit instrumental in launching New England’s ongoing dynasty.
After his promotion to defensive coordinator in 2005, Mangini moved on to an up-and-down tenure as head coach of the Jets between 2006-2008, and then had a two-year stint with Cleveland between 2009-2010.
In 2015, as defensive coordinator of the 49ers, Mangini will have the opportunity to do what he does best, this time, with a tantalizing array of weapons to implement in his attacking 3-4 defense.
Replacing former coordinator Vic Fangio, who left San Francisco for the same position in Chicago, Mangini is signed to a three-year contract.