Jimmy Raye, 62, signed on as the offensive coordinator after the 49ers were turned down by a host of candidates.

Scott Linehan was first offered the job, but decided instead to take the same position with the winless Lions, who are now coached by close friend Jim Schwartz.

Ravens quarterbacks coach Hugh Jackson was also interviewed twice, but not offered the job.

Former Browns offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski interviewed, got weary of waiting for an answer and left to be the Chargers' tight ends coach.

Former Boston College coach Jeff Jagodzinski took the offensive coordinator job in Tampa Bay, while Broncos offensive line coach Rick Dennison decided to stay in Denver.

Dan Reeves was even courted, but opted for a consulting job with the Cowboys.

"First of all, it certainly took longer than we would have liked it to, but sometimes good things come to those who wait," coach Mike Singletary said. "The thing that I did not want to do is go ahead and make a knee-jerk decision and try and select someone before we thought we had our guy. This process to me went exactly like it needed to go except that it went a little bit longer than I would like for it to."

So saying the 49ers "settled" on Raye isn't an exaggeration. Singletary said he wanted a veteran coach, and he was successful in that mission. Raye has been an NFL coach for three decades, including coordinator stints with the Rams - when they were in Los Angeles - Tampa Bay, New England, Kansas City, Washington and Oakland. He spent the past three seasons with the Jets as the running backs coach.

Singletary said he's not concerned that very few of the offenses Raye has coordinated have finished in the top third of the league rankings.

"Not at all. When you sit down and begin to look around the league, you have some names that are highly sought after names," Singletary said. "That to me alone does not determine whether or not you're going to have a successful offense. The most important thing is what I wanted to come back to and what I think about constantly is that leadership and preparation and vision, and when I think about our team in what the whole vision brings and what we need, I just feel really good about Jimmy Raye being that guy to come in and do that."