Jim Hostler

Who is Jim Hostler?

Jim Hostler is an American football coach. Hostler is currently a senior offensive assistant for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers in 2007, having been named to that position on February 28, 2007, which he held until being fired, on January 2, 2008. He spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons as the 49ers' quarterbacks coach. He had previously served on the staffs of the New York Jets the New Orleans Saints, and the Kansas City Chiefs. Prior to coaching in the NFL, Hostler spent nine seasons coaching at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

As offensive coordinator for the 49ers, he was subject to much scrutiny and criticism regarding his playcalling. Among his most common criticisms was his inability to effectively use star running back Frank Gore, who led the National Football Conference in rushing in 2006, but under Hostlers' play calling, was largely ineffective. Gore publicly criticized Hostler, saying the team did not trust his play calling. Midway into the 2007 season, the 49ers' offense was ranked last in the NFL, and the 49ers' rushing offense, ranked sixth the previous year, was ranked near the bottom of the league after eight games under Hostler's direction. Under Hostlers' direction, the 49ers fell behind every team in the league in the categories of total offense, yards passing, and yards per play.