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49ers Rumors: Lane Kiffin's Brother Chris to Leave FAU for San Francisco

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistFebruary 15, 2018

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 04:  A San Francisco 49ers logo remains in front of an empty section of seating inside Candlestick Park on February 4, 2015 in San Francisco, California.  The demolition of Candlestick Park, the former home of the San Francisco Giants and San Francisco 49ers, is underway and is expected to take 3 months to complete. A development with a mall and housing is planned for the site.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Florida Atlantic defensive coordinator Chris Kiffin, brother to FAU head coach Lane Kiffin, is reportedly leaving the program to take a job with the San Francisco 49ers, according to ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

Bruce Feldman of Sports Illustrated reported that Kiffin would be joining the organization as a pass-rush specialist coach.

Kiffin has held coaching gigs with Idaho, Nebraska, USC, Arkansas State and Ole Miss. He was hired as FAU's defensive coordinator before the 2017 season and led a unit ranked 34th in points per game (22.7) and 63rd in yards per contest (389.6).

That was an improvement from the 2016 season, when FAU was ranked No. 123 in points per game. Chris and Lane are the sons of longtime NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who serves as a defensive analyst at FAU.

Kiffin is the latest departure from his brother's staff. Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles left for the same position with Houston, while offensive line coach Garin Justice was hired by UNLV and defensive backs coach Corey Batoon is off to Hawaii.

Lane Kiffin hired Charlie Weis Jr., the 24-year-old son of former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis, as his new offensive coordinator amidst those departures.

"He's way ahead of his time in how he sees the game, his football IQ and just his overall intelligence," Lane Kiffin said of that hire, per Chris Low and Field Yates of ESPN.com. "He's been around the game with his dad being a coach, a lot like I was when I was growing up, and has a bright future."