SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers hired former New York Jets special teams coordinator Brant Boyer on Monday to take over a unit that has struggled for years under coach Kyle Shanahan.
Shanahan fired special teams coordinator Brian Schneider following a season in which mistakes in the kicking game contributed to a 6-11 record. He found a proven option in Boyer that he hopes can provide needed improvement to a unit that finished last in the league in expected points added on special teams and near the bottom of nearly all efficiency stats involved with the kicking game.
The 53-year-old Boyer ran the special teams for the Jets for the past nine seasons under three different full-time head coaches.
Boyer led a special teams unit that ranked tied for second with nine touchdowns scored, second with eight blocked punts and tied for fifth in kick return coverage. He coached two All-Pro returners and three players who made the Pro Bowl for their work on special teams.
Boyer served as an assistant special teams coach for Indianapolis from 2012-15 before joining the Jets and played 11 seasons in the NFL.
Mistakes on special teams played big roles in some key losses for San Francisco last season, including a Week 3 defeat against the Rams when San Francisco allowed a fake punt that fueled a scoring drive, missed a field goal that could have put the game away late and gave up a long punt return that set up a game-winning field goal.
But the problems were persistent all season, with San Francisco having a punt blocked, giving up a kickoff return for a touchdown and committing three turnovers on returns over the course of the season. The Niners allowed a successful fake punt again in a season-ending loss at Arizona on Sunday.
The biggest issues on special teams were the struggles of second-year kicker Jake Moody, who went 5 for 14 on field goals from at least 40 yards in the final nine games after he returned from an ankle injury.
San Francisco used a third-round pick on Moody in 2023 and he had an up-and-down rookie season.
The Niners are undergoing major changes on Shanahan's coaching staff. Robert Saleh was hired last week for a second stint as defensive coordinator after spending three-plus seasons as head coach of the Jets, where he worked closely with Boyer.
San Francisco also is interviewing candidates for the offensive coordinator spot that has been vacant since Mike McDaniel left following the 2021 season to become head coach in Miami. Passing game specialist Klay Kubiak is expected to get promoted into that role.
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FILE - New York Jets special teams coordinator Brant Boyer watches warm ups before an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Nov. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus, file)
MADRID (AP) — Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane practiced on Monday and is expected to be available against Real Madrid in their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Kane missed the win over Freiburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday because of a minor ankle issue sustained in training with England last week.
He took part in training in Munich before the club traveled to the Spanish capital for Tuesday's match at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said he will wait until gameday to decide whether to use Kane.
“It was important that he did a lot of training today," Kompany said. "I don’t think he’s lost his rhythm. We’ll wait until tomorrow and then decide ... We have a great squad and are ready for the two legs.”
Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior praised Kane.
“He is a goal-scorer. He is a great player,” Vinícius said. “But Bayern is a great team and has many players who switch positions and make it difficult for us. Whoever plays it will be tough.”
Bayern defender Joshua Kimmich said Kane was “massively important” for the team.
“He’s not just a finisher. He’s an absolute leader, a role model. He has a special mindset for an attacking player," Kimmich said. "If he plays, his leadership qualities will be important.”
Bayern eliminated Atalanta in the last 16, while Madrid got past Manchester City.
“We’ve prepared for Real and we’ve seen what they did against Man City,” Kompany said. "It’s perhaps the toughest away game you can play, but we want to win.”
Madrid and Bayern are meeting in the knockout stage for the sixth time in the past 14 seasons. Madrid has won four of the two-leg matchups with Bayern since the 2011-12 season; once in the quarterfinals and three times in the semifinals, most recently in 2024. Bayern won in the 2012 semifinals after a penalty shootout.
“Bayern is an unbelievable team,” Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa said. “We have a lot of respect for them. They’re having an exceptional season. Bayern has been the most consistent side in Europe this season. They’re fearless, aggressive, very focused defensively, with an unbelievable striker in Harry Kane.”
Bayern is unbeaten in its last 13 games in all competitions with 11 wins, while Madrid is coming off a 2-1 loss at Mallorca on Saturday that hurt its La Liga title hopes.
“We don’t think about not winning the tie and there is only one possible scenario, which is to beat Bayern and get through the tie,” Arbeloa said. “It’s the only thing we want and the only thing we believe in.”
Arbeloa also downplayed criticism of Kylian Mbappé, who has been questioned by some in Madrid recently. Mbappé is coming off a controversial knee injury that reduced his playing time with the Spanish club.
“Mbappé knows perfectly well what Real Madrid is,” Arbeloa said. “We’ve all seen images of Kylian Mbappé wearing the Real Madrid jersey, dreaming of becoming a Real Madrid player. What he has done to come here wasn’t easy.”
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Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe reacts during a La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and Real Madrid in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior in action in front of Mallorca's Pablo Maffeo during a La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and Real Madrid in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
