The San Francisco 49ers have reportedly hired Eric Mangini to become their defensive co-ordinator after he previously worked as their tight ends coach.

Mangini received a three-year contract and he will now join as part of new head coach Jim Tomsula's staff, according to ESPN.

Tomsula had served as the 49ers' defensive line coach for the past eight seasons but he was promoted after Jim Harbaugh departed to become coach at the University of Michigan.

Mangini has previously worked as the New England Patriots defensive backs coach from 2000 to 2004 before he was promoted to defensive co-ordinator in 2005.

In addition, he has served as head coach of the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns as well as working as an NFL analyst on ESPN for two years.