SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers announced on Friday the hiring of Jimmy Raye as offensive coordinator and Mike Johnson as quarterbacks coach.
Terms of the contracts were not disclosed.
Raye brings over 30 years of NFL coaching experience to the 49ers, which includes previous offensive coordinator stints with the Los Angeles Rams (1983-84, 1991), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985-86), New England Patriots (1990), Kansas City Chiefs (1998-2000), Washington Redskins (2001) and Oakland Raiders (2004-05).
Raye spent the past three seasons as the running backs coach for the New York Jets. Under his guidance, running back Thomas Jones produced two consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
From 2004-05, Raye served as assistant head coach/offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders. Under Raye's tutelage, the Raiders ranked 10th in the NFL in passing in 2005 (223.9 ypg) after finishing eighth in passing a year prior (241.1 ypg).
Raye's initial stint with the Jets was from 2002-03. In his second year with the team, Raye served as assistant head coach/senior offensive assistant under then-head coach Herm Edwards. In 2002, Raye, as a senior offensive assistant, helped a young offensive coaching staff produce an offense that ranked seventh in the NFL in yards per play.
Prior to joining the Jets, Raye spent one season as the offensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins in 2001. That season, the Redskins finished eighth in the NFL in rushing (121.8 ypg), while ranking sixth in the league for fewest interceptions thrown (13). Running back Stephen Davis' 1,432 rushing yards were good for third highest in the NFL.
Before working with the Redskins, Raye spent eight years with Kansas City (1992-2000) in various coaching capacities. From 1998-2000, Raye served as the team's offensive coordinator. Under his guidance in 2000, the Chiefs ranked eighth in the NFL in total offense (350.9 ypg) and fourth in passing (259.3 ypg).
From 1993-97, Raye coached running backs for the Chiefs. From 1995-97, the unit ranked as the third best rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 136 yards per game. The Chiefs led the league in rushing in 1995, averaging 138.9 yards per game as the team went 13-3 and won the AFC West. In 1992, Raye joined Kansas City as the offensive assistant/tight ends coach.
Prior to joining the Chiefs, Raye served as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams (1983-84, 1991), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985-86) and New England Patriots (1990). While overseeing those offenses, Raye displayed a penchant for maximizing productivity in the running game. The Rams ranked second in the NFL in rushing in 1984, as Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson became only the second player to top the 2,000-yard rushing mark with an NFL record 2,105 yards. In Raye's two seasons with Tampa Bay, James Wilder reigned as one of the league's top all-purpose threats, combining for 96 pass receptions and 2,004 rushing yards (1985-86).
Raye also has an extensive background as an instructor in the passing game, serving two stints as Atlanta's wide receivers coach (1987-89, 1980-82) and holding the same position with the Rams in 1983. From 1978-79, he coached running backs for the Detroit Lions after entering the pro coaching ranks in 1977 as the San Francisco 49ers wide receivers coach.
Raye was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 16th round of the 1968 NFL Draft and was converted from a quarterback to defensive back before being traded to the Eagles. As a quarterback at Michigan State, Raye enjoyed a stellar career, leading the Spartans to two Big Ten titles and a 1966 Rose Bowl appearance.
Johnson, the new 49ers quarterbacks coach, joins the team after serving as the Baltimore Ravens wide receivers coach from 2006-07. Prior to joining Baltimore, Johnson spent three years as the quarterbacks coach with the Atlanta Falcons, tutoring three-time Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick. In 2003, interim head coach Wade Phillips asked Johnson to call the Falcons' offensive plays for the final two games of the season.
From 2000-01, Johnson served as the quarterbacks coach for the San Diego Chargers. Under Johnson's guidance, Doug Flutie amassed career-highs with 3,464 yards passing and 294 completions in 2001. Flutie's passing yards that season were the most for a Chargers quarterback since Dan Fouts put up 3,638 yards in 1985.
Johnson played five pro seasons as a quarterback, beginning his career as a rookie free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 1990. He then played two years for the San Antonio Riders of the World League. Johnson moved to the Canadian Football league in 1992 and quarterbacked the British Columbia Lions for two seasons. From 1994-95, he quarterbacked the CFL's Shreveport Pirates for his final two pro playing years.
