NFL Rumors: San Francisco 49ers Kick Out Jim Tomsula; Jarryd Hayne In Danger?

Jan 08, 2016 12:39 PM EST

The San Francisco 49ers had a heartbreaking NFL season. While the Colin Kaepernick squad generated a lot of excitement in the offseason, the anticipation died down when the games started. One source of enthusiasm had been Jarryd Hayne. The entry of the Australian rugby star into the NFL generated great fanfare in 2015. Apart from seeing a promising athlete enter the field, Hayne brought with him his country's support and energy during the games. That is, the punter expanded the NFL's fan base to reach another continent.

However, things went downhill when Hayne fumbled his attempts in the field. His first games with the NFL proved to be quite a challenge for the Aussie star as he struggled to remain on the team. Hayne was later on cut from the 53-man roster of the San Francisco 49ers and was initially thought to land in another NFL team. The Carlos Hyde squad eventually re-signed the rugby star but opted to place him in the practice squad.

While Hayne has shown notable improvement in his skills in the field, it looks like his future with the San Francisco 49ers remains uncertain. Following a dismal run of the NFL team and their subsequent failure to get in the playoffs, the front office decided to fire Jim Tomsula. With the head coach gone, Hayne's roster spot chances appear to be getting more precarious by the day. Nonetheless, the rugby star remains optimistic about his chances in the NFL team.

"There's a whole bunch of things I've improved on, and over time, I'm going to get better," shared Hayne via an official press release. The San Francisco 49ers star added, "I'm excited for the future, because I'm still learning and still developing. I had never played the game before. There was always going to be something here that I didn't expect. And it's been a whole bunch of things that I've learned, had fun with and it's been a great adventure."

Although his future is unknown in the NFL, Hayne shared his appreciation for the fans. He said via ESPN, "I guess I achieved that when I left [Australia]. That was it, to chase the dream. I did that, and everything else was a bonus. It's been incredible, and I think all the support has been the biggest thing for me. All the support I've received back here and definitely in California and [from] the 49ers fans, it's been incredible."

Hayne further noted that a comeback with the San Francisco 49ers is "the plan." However, he also pointed out that the departure of Tomsula could impact his career in the NFL. He shared, "Obviously with a new coach on board, hopefully, he wants me back and, if that's the case, I'll be back to Santa Clara, California."

The San Francisco 49ers had a record of 5-11 in the NFL regular season. With this weak campaign, the football squad landed the seventh place in the 2016 NFL Draft picks. The first slot is given to the Tennessee Titans, with the Cleveland Browns in second place. The third and fourth spots are snagged by the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars. The sixth and eight places are taken by the Miami Dolphins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rounding up the top ten in the 2016 NFL Draft are the New York Giants.