Santa Clara, Calif. ? After a short flirtation with Mississippi, Dennis Erickson recommitted himself to the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday — for three more weeks, at least.

Erickson withdrew from consideration for Ole Miss’ vacant head coaching position after a two-hour meeting with the school’s athletic director and chancellor Tuesday night. He plans to finish the season with the 49ers, and still hopes to coach the team again next season.

“I feel like I want to finish this thing, if I have the opportunity,” Erickson said after practice at the 49ers’ training complex. “It was more of an interest in looking into the college situation. It doesn’t really have anything to do with the San Francisco 49ers. I just wanted to look into it, and I did.”

Erickson has three seasons and $7.5 million remaining on his contract with the 49ers, but his future is far from secure. San Francisco’s brass still might attempt to force out the coach or some of his assistants after this dismal season.

The 49ers, who made the playoffs two years ago, are tied with Miami for the NFL’s worst record at 2-11. Erickson, who won two national championships during a successful college coaching career, is 9-20 in two seasons in San Francisco.

General manager Terry Donahue, who granted permission to Ole Miss to speak to Erickson, still plans to evaluate Erickson and his staff after the season. Donahue, a longtime coach at UCLA, claimed he wasn’t insulted when Erickson showed interest in exploring another job opportunity.

“It’s been a very tough season on everybody,” Donahue said. “It’s been a hard year on players and coaches and the management team to go through this, and it’s been most difficult on the head coach. It always is. I’ve been where he is … and it’s always most difficult for the head coach.”

Erickson kept Donahue informed of Mississippi’s advances through a weeklong courtship, first through school intermediaries before athletic director Pete Boone’s formal interview request, which wasn’t necessary under NFL rules. Erickson wasn’t offered the job.

“Right now I’m done, but like I said, you’re always open to whatever,” Erickson said.