Earlier tonight, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the San Francisco 49ers are expected to part ways with both general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport spoke about the news and gave an update on why the 49ers were doing this now.
"It's moving on from Trent Baalke and it's moving on from Chip Kelly," Rapoport said. "Their second-straight one-and-done for a head coach but really for the 49ers, this is an opportunity to clean house, start anew. They have not done this since the hired Scot McCloughan and Mike Nolan about two decades ago and for them, they feel that this is the best chance for them to get it right.
"It also means that owner Jed York and his family are going to be paying more than $30 million in salaries for coaches that they have fired over the last couple of years but, to them, that is something that they can deal with because the hope of getting it right and getting that franchise to start winning again like it had in the past over so many, so many decades, that is something that is worth it to them.
Why are the 49ers firing Chip Kelly now?
"So after the game tomorrow (against the Seattle Seahawks), early Monday, the 49ers are expected to make it official firing Chip Kelly after a frustrating 2016 season and firing Trent Baalke, the longtime general manager after too many personnel misses and too much decline on the roster."
RELATED Report: 49ers expected to part ways with Trent Baalke and Chip Kelly
Rapoport went on to say that the feeling of ownership was that things were not going in the right direction. They wanted to start fresh and allow any general manager replacement to make his own coaching hire rather than one position being stuck with another that was already in place.
"For the 49ers, this is what they deemed best," Rapoport continued. "Pull the plug on the Chip Kelly era, send him back to college, and start new with what they hope is a high powered head coach and a smart general manager."
Rapoport said that team CEO Jed York will not be going anywhere and will not be giving up any power. York is expected to hold a press conference early in the week following the 49ers' finale on Sunday.
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