NFL allows Nolan to wear suit for Sunday's game
While the 49ers hope to make a statement with a third consecutive victory, 49ers coach Mike Nolan is ready to make a statement of his own - a fashion statement.
The NFL has given Nolan permission for the first time to wear a suit on the sideline. He is expected to wear a coat and tie on the sideline Sunday when the 49ers face the NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks at Monster Park.
Nolan's attire will be on a trial basis. He might be allowed to wear a suit for only two games this season.
"There's a strong chance he'll be wearing a suit for this game," said a source close to Nolan on Tuesday. "But at the end of the day, they still want to sell hats and shirts instead of blazers."
Nolan originally asked the NFL for permission to wear a suit on the sideline shortly after he was named 49ers head coach in January 2005. The league denied his request, deciding he must wear the NFL-sponsored garb like every other coach in the league.
Nolan met with representatives from Reebok last year and again in June to discuss alternatives.
NFL coaches have worn clothes from a limited wardrobe, including sweater vests and polo shirts, since 1993 when the league formed its NFL Properties division. Reebok is the official sponsor of sideline clothing for coaches. The league's $250 million contract with Reebok runs through the 2012 season.
Nolan has said he prefers the sideline attire worn by coaches of previous generations, most notably his father, ****, and former Cowboys coach Tom Landry. **** Nolan, who coached the 49ers from 1968 to '75, regularly wore a coat and tie on the sideline. Landry fashioned a similar ensemble, along with his trademark fedora.
One of Nolan's major coaching influences, Dan Reeves, was the last NFL coach to wear a jacket and tie on the sideline. But Reeves was forced to don NFL-licensed gear along with all the other coaches when he went to the Atlanta Falcons in 1997.
Nolan said in the past that head coaches should be allowed to dress in a manner that commands respect. He said several other NFL coaches have also expressed their desire to wear suits on the sideline.
Last month, Nolan intimated he would be allowed to wear a suit before the end of the season. He said the league had given him reason to beleive a compromise would be reached.
Nolan, who was busy in meetings preparing for Sunday's game, was unavailable for comment Tuesday evening. The league office had no official comment.
Will the horrible Fox announcers spend more time talking about Nolan's suit rather than the game?
Probably will be a compromise down the line, I could see them being allowed to wear suits but they must wear their team colors/logo on an official NFL tie or something.
BB can look like a bum, as long as he's wearing the NFL Shop gear 
