The San Francisco 49ers have already lost a key member of the front office during this hiring cycle with Adam Peters going to the Washington Commanders, while defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has interviewed for a pair of vacant head coach positions and offensive assistant Klint Kubiak has drawn interest from the Chicago Bears in their search for a new offensive coordinator.

Now a member of their special teams staff is also in demand.

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that the 49ers' assistant special teams coach Matt Harper interviewed for the New York Giants' vacant special teams coach role over the weekend.

Harper getting such interest is something of a surprise.

Save for a few blips, rookie kicker Jake Moody has enjoyed a strong start to his career, while punter Mitch Wishnowsky has put together his best season since being drafted in the fourth round in 2019.

Yet the 49ers' special teams has still experienced a drop-off, going from 15th in DVOA in 2022 to 25th this season.

With the team since 2021, Harper has still clearly managed to catch the eye despite those struggles, and the 49ers could soon have a hole to fill in an area of the game that is an undoubted weakness for one of the NFL's best teams.

49ers start Divisional Round week with status they should ignore

They can’t buy into it.