Kyle Shanahan is adding another sharp offensive mind to his staff-and this one carries some serious 49ers legacy with him.
Roman Sapolu, who most recently served as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins, is joining Shanahan’s coaching group in San Francisco. The name should ring a bell for longtime Niners fans: he's the son of Jesse Sapolu, the four-time Super Bowl champion and longtime anchor of the 49ers offensive line during the franchise’s golden era in the 1980s and '90s.
Jesse Sapolu’s 15-year run in San Francisco-154 starts, four rings, and a reputation as one of the most dependable linemen of his time-still echoes through the halls of the organization. Now, his son is stepping into that same building, not as a player, but as a coach with a growing résumé and a deep understanding of offensive football.
Roman Sapolu spent the 2024 season in Miami under head coach Mike McDaniel, a former Shanahan protégé who has built one of the league’s most electric offenses. That connection likely played a role in the hire-Shanahan has always valued coaches who understand the language and rhythm of his offensive system. Sapolu’s time in Miami gave him a front-row seat to a scheme that shares DNA with San Francisco’s, making this a natural fit.
But Sapolu’s path to the NFL sideline wasn’t just about connections-it’s been about consistent growth and a clear knack for offensive line development. Before his time with the Dolphins, he sharpened his coaching chops in the college ranks.
At the University of Hawaii, he worked as the offensive line coach and was promoted to co-offensive coordinator in his second season. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at Fresno State, where he helped mold young linemen and played a key role in designing run-game strategies that fit today’s fast-paced offenses.
His ties to the 49ers go back even further. In 2018, Sapolu took part in the NFL’s Minority Coaching Fellowship with San Francisco, working closely with the offensive line during training camp. That early exposure to Shanahan’s system and the 49ers’ culture planted the seeds for what’s now a full-circle moment.
As a former Oregon State offensive lineman himself, Sapolu brings a player’s perspective to the job. He started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Nebraska from 2015 to 2017, steadily climbing the ranks through a mix of college and NFL experience. It’s a resume built on persistence, adaptability, and a clear understanding of trench play-something Shanahan values highly in his staff.
This move comes as the 49ers navigate a wave of offseason coaching changes. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and assistant Gus Bradley have taken jobs with the Tennessee Titans, while defensive backs coach Daniel Bullocks is headed to the Packers. While those departures affect the defensive side of the ball, adding someone like Sapolu strengthens the offensive brain trust and keeps the coaching pipeline flowing with fresh, innovative minds.
For Shanahan, it’s another calculated move to keep his offense evolving while staying rooted in the principles that have made it one of the league’s most consistently productive units. And for the Sapolu family, it’s a homecoming-one that connects the franchise’s storied past with its present ambitions.