Promoting from within, the 49ers elevate an offensive line assistant to guide tight ends, including star George Kittle.
The San Francisco 49ers had a vacancy to fill on their offensive staff this offseason after losing tight ends coach Brian Fleury to the division rival Seattle Seahawks, who hired him as their new offensive coordinator.
Fleury had been with the 49ers since 2019, originally joining the staff as a defensive quality control coach before eventually transitioning to the offensive side under head coach Kyle Shanahan. Over time, he worked his way up the ladder, becoming the team’s tight ends coach and later adding run game coordinator duties to his title.
After Fleury’s departure, the 49ers had an opening to address. Rather than look outside the building, the organization opted for promoting from within.
According to NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, the 49ers are promoting assistant offensive line coach Cameron Clemmons to tight ends coach ahead of the 2026 season.
Clemmons had spent the past two seasons on San Francisco’s staff as the assistant offensive line coach. Before joining the 49ers, he held the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders for four seasons, helping develop their offensive line group.
A former college offensive lineman, Clemmons played five seasons at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football from 2010 to 2014 before transitioning into coaching. His coaching career began as an offensive intern at Eastern Kentucky Colonels football in 2015. That opportunity helped launch his climb through the coaching ranks.
He later moved on to Tennessee Volunteers football, where he worked as a graduate assistant before being promoted to an offensive quality control analyst. Clemmons remained there from 2016 through 2019 before eventually making the jump to the NFL.
Now, his rise continues in San Francisco, even if it comes at a different position group. However, if you can coach the offensive line you can coach any position group on the offensive side of the ball.
Clemmons will take over a tight end room headlined by All-Pro George Kittle, who remains one of the most complete players at the position in the league. Kittle has been a centerpiece of Shanahan’s offense for years, serving as both an elite receiving threat and one of the NFL’s premier blocking tight ends.
The rest of the room includes Jake Tonges, Luke Farrell and Brayden Willis, while Hayden Rucci is currently signed to a reserve/futures contract.
Promoting Clemmons continues a trend for the 49ers under Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, who have often preferred internal promotions when filling coaching vacancies. The approach keeps continuity within the system while rewarding assistants who have already spent time learning the organization’s scheme and culture.
Now Clemmons will have the opportunity to lead his own position group, working closely with one of the league’s best tight ends while helping guide the next phase of the 49ers’ offense.