Posted at 12:11 p.m., Tuesday, January 8, 2008
NFL: 49ers hire Martz to be new offensive coordinator
By Greg Beacham
Associated Press
The team hopes Martz will reinvent a unit that finished last in most statistical categories last season.
Martz, who tormented the 49ers for years during his greatest success with their NFC West rival St. Louis Rams, was fired by the Detroit Lions last week after two seasons.
He replaces Jim Hostler, who also was fired last week after the 49ers matched a franchise low and finished last in the NFL with 219 points.
Hostler, who got the job on short notice after Norv Turner left to coach the Chargers, also produced the league's worst statistics in total yards (3,797), yards passing (2,320), offensive touchdowns (23), first downs (218), sacks allowed (55) and third-down conversions (31.4 percent).
Martz is San Francisco's sixth offensive coordinator in six years. He was the Rams' offensive coordinator in their last Super Bowl win, and he was head coach from 2000-05, including a Super Bowl loss in 2001.
