We polled thousands of San Francisco 49ers fans and, unsurprisingly, the overwhelming majority believe that general manager Trent Baalke needs to go. Almost 94 percent of the Niner Faithful believe that Baalke is the main problem with the franchise's demise and that he should be gone at the end of the season.
The 94 percent majority is made up of two groups. The first are the nearly 56 percent that Baalke alone should be fired at the end of the season. The second are the nearly 38 percent that believe Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly should not return in 2017.
What may surprise you is that over 5 percent of fans believe that Baalke and Kelly should both remain for a 2017 campaign. 1 percent believe that Kelly alone should be let go and that Baalke should remain.
| Scenario | Fan Vote |
| Baalke gone | 56.11% |
| Baalke and Kelly gone | 37.72% |
| Baalke and Kelly stay | 5.09% |
| Kelly gone | 1.08% |
"I feel bad for the fans, I feel bad for a lot of people, the ownership in particular," Baalke told Ted Robinson and Tim Ryan on Sunday prior to kickoff. "You know, they give us everything we need and I've said that. I've gone public with that. If we don't get it done, put it on me."
Baalke has officially served as the team's general manager since 2011. He started his tenure with the 49ers in 2005 as their Western Region Scout. In March of 2010, the 49ers terminated the contract of then general manager Scot McCloughan, leaving Baalke to head the draft during the following month. He briefly served as the Vice President of Player Personnel for the 49ers before being promoted to general manager following the firing of head coach Mike Singletary.
Poor drafting and a lack of activity in free agency resulted in a 49ers team that has set the franchise record for consecutive losses in a season – now at 10. At 1-10, the Baalke built 49ers have the second-worst record in the league and are considered by many to be among one of the least talented rosters in the league.
The real story here might be the nearly 6 percent that believe Baalke should remain.