Report: 49ers to hire Mike Singletary

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 25 (UPI) -- The San Francisco 49ers plan to hire interim head coach Mike Singletary on a full-time basis, a source told the Sacramento Bee.

The newspaper reported Thursday Singletary met with team officials earlier this week, when the decision was made to offer him a multiyear contract soon after the 49ers' season-finale Sunday against the Washington Redskins.

San Francisco has won three of its last four games.

The former Chicago Bears all-pro linebacker replaced the fired Mike Nolan in October, doubled the 49ers' win total from two last season to four, and the team has adjusted to his desire to run a ball-control offense.

The source also said defensive coordinator Greg Manusky would be retained, but offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who has a pass-first philosophy, would not.

Singletary is a minority, meaning the 49ers have already met the criteria outlined in the NFL's Rooney rules for interviewing minority candidates.