user: 49ers hot for Adam Gase, but it might cost them Vic Fangio

Eric Branc, San Francisco Chronicle

The 49ers could be on the verge of hiring Adam Gase … and losing Vic Fangio.

Gase, the Broncos’ offensive coordinator, had a lengthy second interview with the 49ers on Tuesday in Denver and the team is serious about making him its next head coach, NFL Network reported. After that meeting, which was scheduled to extend into the evening, Gase was set to meet with Denver general manager John Elway.

At a news conference Tuesday, Elway said Gase is a candidate for Denver’s head-coach opening, which was created when the Broncos split with John Fox on Monday.

Gase, 36, has ties to the 49ers — he was an offensive assistant in 2008 — but has been with the Broncos for six seasons as their wide receivers coach (2009-10), quarterbacks coach (2011-12) and offensive coordinator (2013-14). Gase is close with quarterback Peyton Manning, 38, who was noncommittal about returning for an 18th season after Denver’s divisional playoff loss to the Colts on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Fangio, 56, the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, would consider requesting his release from his contract if Gase is hired, a source said. Fangio believes the 49ers’ next head coach needs significant coaching and life experience to lead an experienced, ready-to-contend team coming off a turmoil-filled 8-8 season. Fangio is under contract through the 2015 season.

Fangio, the first candidate to interview for the 49ers’ opening, is a 28-year NFL veteran with 15 years of experience as a coordinator. Gase, who broke into the NFL as a 25-year-old scouting assistant with the Lions in 2003, has 10 years of coaching experience in the league, two as a coordinator.

The potential loss of Fangio could be significant. Since he arrived in 2011, Fangio has overseen a defense that has been the backbone of a team with a 44-19-1 regular-season record over that span. Since 2011, the 49ers have allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL and third-fewest yards.

Washington has requested permission to interview Fangio for its still-available defensive-coordinator opening, but the 49ers declined the request.

The 49ers could have two in-house replacements if Fangio were to exit: secondary coach Ed Donatell and defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, who also has been a candidate for their head-coach opening.

The 49ers’ interest in Gase, who also has interviewed with the Falcons and Bears, isn’t surprising, given their offensive issues. Their biggest concern, of course, is the development of quarterback Colin Kaepernick, whose 2014 struggles — he ranked 20th in the NFL in passer rating — has inspired him to seek tutoring from two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner in Arizona during the offseason.

The 49ers figured the hiring of Jim Harbaugh in 2011 would prove to be an elixir for a team that didn’t rank higher than 23rd in the NFL in total yards from 2003 to 2010. In the four-year Harbaugh era, however, they ranked 15th in the NFL in points scored and 23rd in total yards.

Gase has spent the past two seasons in charge of a historically prolific offense, although Manning’s presence makes it unclear just how much credit Gase deserves. Since 2013, the Broncos have scored 1,088 points, the highest two-season total in NFL history.

Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch
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assistant: Gase, 36, has ties to the 49ers — he was an offensive assistant in 2008 — but has been with the Broncos for six seasons as their wide receivers coach (2009-10), quarterbacks coach (2011-12) and offensive coordinator (2013-14).  Gase is close with quarterback Peyton Manning, 38, who was noncommittal about returning for an 18th season after Denver’s divisional playoff loss to the Colts on Sunday.  The potential loss of Fangio could be significant.  Since he arrived in 2011, Fangio has overseen a defense that has been the backbone of a team with a 44-19-1 regular-season record over that span.  Since 2011, the 49ers have allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL and third-fewest yards.  Gase has spent the past two seasons in charge of a historically prolific offense, although Manning’s presence makes it unclear just how much credit Gase deserves.  Since 2013, the Broncos have scored 1,088 points, the highest two-season total in NFL history.