Coaches And Staff

Tom Rathman rejoined the 49ers as the team’s running backs coach in 2009 after serving the previous two seasons in the same capacity with the Oakland Raiders. It marks Rathman’s second coaching stint in San Francisco, having also coached the running backs for the team from 1997 to 2002.

Under Rathman’s tutelage in 2009, RB Frank Gore became the first player in 49ers history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in four seasons (2006-09), as the fifth year veteran posted 1,120 rushing yards and a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns on the season, despite missing two games due to injury. For his efforts, Gore was named an alternate for the 2010 Pro Bowl, and eventually played in the honorary game. He also was twice named NFC Offensive Player of the Week (2 & 14).

While with the Raiders, Rathman oversaw a rushing attack that ranked 10th (124.2 ypg) in the NFL in 2008 after ranking 6th (130.4 ypg) a year prior. Rathman played an instrumental role in developing RB Justin Fargas, who rushed for 1,009 yards in 2007 and 853 yards in 2008.

Prior to joining the Raiders, Rathman served as the running backs coach for the Detroit Lions from 2003 to 2005. In 2004, Rathman tutored RB Kevin Jones, who rushed for 1,133 yards, including an NFL-leading 825 yards on 153 attempts (5.4 avg.) over the final seven games of the season. Jones’ performance in his first NFL season was tops among rookies in the NFL that year and the best rookie season by a Lions running back since RB Barry Sanders in 1989.

During Rathman’s first coaching stint with the 49ers, San Francisco’s rushing attack finished in the top 10 among NFL teams in five of the six seasons under his guidance, including top-ranked seasons in 1998 (159.0 ypg) and 1999 (130.9 ypg), to go along with a 2nd ranked unit in 2001 (140.3).

In 2001, Rathman was instrumental in guiding RB Garrison Hearst, the two-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year, to his second career Pro Bowl selection. He coached RB Charlie Garner to his second consecutive 1,000-yard season and his first career Pro Bowl selection in 2000 after gaining 1,142 yards on 258 carries and a career-high seven touchdowns. Garner also eclipsed his career-highs with 68 receptions for 647 yards and three touchdowns.

Prior to his coaching career, Rathman enjoyed an NFL playing career of his own that spanned nine seasons (1986-94) as a fullback. He entered the league as a third round pick by San Francisco, where he spent the first eight years of his career helping the 49ers capture two World Championships (Super Bowl XXIII and XXIV) and seven NFC West titles. In 1989, he led all NFL running backs in receiving with 73 receptions for 616 yards. Rathman played his final season in the NFL with the Los Angeles Raiders in 1994, closing out his NFL career with 2,020 rushing yards, 320 receptions for 2,684 yards and 34 total touchdowns.

In between his playing and coaching career in the NFL, the Grand Island, Nebraska native helped rebuild the Menlo College (CA) program by serving as the team’s offensive coordinator in 1996 after serving as the running backs coach at Serra High School in San Mateo (CA) in 1995.

A three-year letterman at Nebraska, Rathman rushed for 1,425 yards and averaged more than six yards per carry.

Rathman and his wife, Holly, have three daughters: Nicole, Alexandra, and Samantha.