Mangini hired by 49ers as consultant

Former NFL coach Eric Mangini was hired by the San Francisco 49ers as an offensive consultant, ESPN reported Saturday.

Mangini, who was a head coach for the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, most recently worked as an analyst for ESPN.

Mangini, who has a background as a defensive coach as a New England Patriots assistant under head coach Bill Belichick, will help the 49ers offense find weaknesses in opposing defenses.

San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke worked in the Jets' scouting department in the late 1990s when Mangini was a defensive assistant there. Mangini has also worked with 49ers special teams coach Brad Seely.