Mike Singletary Will Return as 49ers Head Coach in 2009 ... and Beyond

Thanks to a 39-yard Joe Nedney field goal as time expired, the 49ers closed out their season with a 27-24 win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday afternoon. With the victory, San Francisco ends the season with a 7-9 mark, which was capped off with a 5-4 run under interim head coach Mike Singletary.

After some speculation earlier in the week that Singletary would be remaining with the team in 2009, the 49ers confirmed it following Sunday's win, and signed Singletary to a four-year, $10 million contract, as reported by Matt Maiocco of the Press Democrat.

49ers president Jed York on the signing: "This is the last time our season ends in December."

You know, as long as the 49ers play in the NFC West, he might be right. I mean, just look at that division this season, and ask yourself if it's likely to get any better next season. Is it entirely out of the question for this team to enter 2009 as a legitimate contender for the division title? I mean, they only finished two games out this season despite the 2-5 hole Mike Nolan and J.T. O'Sullivan helped them dig over the first seven weeks.

Anyway, as for the new head coach and his contract, Maiocco reports that Singletary will have the power to hire and fire assistant coaches -- I have no idea why head coaches wouldn't have this power -- and who knows what that will mean for offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

If we're to believe a report from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports earlier on Sunday, Singletary would actually like to retain Martz, but the front office would like him to go in another direction, which would seem to contradict the fact Singletary can choose his assistant coaches.

Basically, Mike, you can pick your assistants, just so it's not this guy. Makes sense, in an Al Davis sort of way. It also seems to contradict the Sacramento Bee report from Wednesday that claimed Martz and his pass-first, ask questions later style of play clashed with Singletary's offensive philosophy. But, whatever. This isn't about Martz or the coordinators right now -- it's a long offseason, plenty of time for that -- it's about Singletary, and it would be difficult to argue that he didn't earn this job over the final seven weeks of the season.

After a rough start that included pants droppings and tirades directed at Vernon Davis -- "can't win with him" -- the 49ers played, perhaps, their best football in six years under Singletary's guidance, winning five or their last seven games, and nearly defeating the AFC East champions -- the Miami Dolphins -- in Miami two weeks ago.

Perhaps things are starting to look up in San Francisco.