FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Addressing their thin backfield, the New York Jets agreed to terms Tuesday with former San Francisco 49ers running back Tevin Coleman on a one-year contract that can be worth up to $2 million, a league source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Coleman will be reunited with Jets coach Robert Saleh and several assistants, all of whom left San Francisco after the season. After a few failed attempts over the past week, Saleh finally landed a 49ers free agent.
Coleman joins a relatively unproven backfield that includes Ty Johnson, La’Mical Perine and Josh Adams, none of whom has rushed for more than 511 yards in a season. There’s also a good chance they will draft a running back.
The Jets plan to run the 49ers’ offense under new coordinator Mike LaFleur, a former San Francisco assistant, so Coleman will be familiar with the scheme.
His best year was 2018 with the Atlanta Falcons, when he ran for 800 yards in a contract year. He rushed for 544 yards on the 49ers’ NFC championship team in 2019, but 2020 was a washout due to injuries.
In Week 2 against the Jets, Coleman suffered a sprained knee that landed him on injured reserve. He was one of several 49ers players to get injured that day at MetLife Stadium, prompting complaints from the team about the quality of the turf.
Coleman sprained his knee later in the season and wound up playing only 63 offensive snaps in eight games. He was limited to 53 yards on 28 carries (1.9 average) and no touchdowns. It will be a new-look backfield for the Jets, whose leading rusher last season was Frank Gore, 37, a free agent who may retire.
The Jets also made a move on defense, signing former Philadelphia Eagles pass rusher Vinny Curry to a one-year, $1.3 million contact. Curry, who turns 33 on June 30, projects as a situational rusher. He recorded three sacks and 10 quarterbacks hits in 11 games last season. In nine seasons, including eight with the Eagles, he has 32.5 career sacks.
The Jets, one of the most active teams in free agency, have signed 11 players.