Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
49ers announce that general manager Trent Baalke has been fired
Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
The San Francisco 49ers have finally announced the firing of general manager Trent Baalke. He had officially served as the team's general manager since 2011. The move was widely expected given the current state of the franchise while under Baalke's control. Prior to the team's final game of the season, a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium, Baalke confirmed that he had been fired. Reports stated that Baalke was informed of the decision on Friday.
The team also
announced the firing of head coach Chip Kelly after just one season with the team.
"I have informed Trent and Chip of my decision to pursue new leadership for our football team," said CEO Jed York via a statement issued by the team. "These types of conversations are never easy, especially when they involve people you respect personally and professionally.
"Trent gave this organization every ounce of effort he had over the last 12 years and his contributions were integral to the team reaching three straight NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl. I will forever be grateful for his dedication to the 49ers, and his friendship to me and my family. I wish Trent, Beth and their daughters the very best in whatever the future holds for their family.
"Chip has my gratitude for the job he did this year, navigating the team through some adverse circumstances. I look forward to watching his career continue to unfold, and wish him and Jill great success in life.
RELATED 49ers officially fire head coach Chip Kelly after just one season
"Despite my feelings for Trent and Chip, I felt the decision to change our football leadership was absolutely necessary. The performance of this team has not lived up to my expectations or those of our fans, and that is truly disappointing. We all expected to see this team progress and develop as the season went on, but unfortunately that did not happen. That is why now is the time to find a new direction for this team."
Baalke 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.
Baalke was joined by head coach Jim Harbaugh and the two saw some success together, mostly reaping the roster benefits of the previous regime. Baalke was even named Executive of the Year for the 2011 season after receiving credit for transforming the 49ers from a 6-10 team into a 13-3 team in his first season as general manager.
Harbaugh was dismissed by the team following reports that the two had been clashing. Poor drafting and a lack of activity in free agency resulted in a 5-11 team in 2015 under head coach Jim Tomsula and this past 2-14 season under Chip Kelly.
RELATED Chip Kelly hadn't heard that Trent Baalke had been fired
The 49ers roster is now considered by many to be among the least talented in the league. His 2012 draft class is widely considered to be his worst. None of the seven players selected that year are currently on the 49ers roster with WR A.J. Jenkins possibly being his worst first-round selection as general manager.
Fans have been so frustrated with Baalke, his inability to lure talented free agents, and his miscues during drafts, that they
funded a banner to fly over Levi's Stadium prior to a game in order to plead for ownership to fire him.
Matt Maiocco of
CSN Bay Area has
reported that the Denver Broncos would be the most likely landing spot for Baalke, who is still well respected around the league – perhaps as the Director of College Scouting.
The 49ers' assistant general manager, Tom Gamble, is not expected to be a candidate for the opening, according to Maiocco.
Related News
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
49ers announce roster moves ahead of Eagles game
The San Francisco 49ers have signed cornerback Kemon Hall and safety Erik Harris to the team's practice squad and released offensive lineman Henry Byrd.
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Hall (5-11, 190) originally entered the NFL after signing with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on May 10, 2019. After spending the majority of the 2019 season on the Chargers practice squad, he was signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on December 31, 2019. He went on to spend training camp with the Vikings before appearing on the New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys practice squads in 2020. He was signed to the Chargers active roster on
49ers activate Samuel Womack, announce other roster moves ahead of Seahawks game
The San Francisco 49ers announced several roster moves ahead of tonight's Thanksgiving matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
Cornerback Samuel Womack, who was sidelined with an MCL injury and placed on the injured reserve list on September 16, has been activated. Womack, a fifth-round draft pick from Toledo in 2022, had his practice window opened on November 6.
To accommodate Womack's return, cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles has been waived. Jean-Charles, who has been dealing with a shoulder injury, played in five games for the team and recorded one tackle.
Furthermore, the 49ers have activated offensive linemen Jesse Davis and Corey Luciano from the practice squad through standard
49ers announce roster moves ahead of battle with Eagles
The San Francisco 49ers have announced two roster moves ahead of Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Wide receiver Chris Conley and safety Erik Harris have both been promoted to the active roster from the team's practice squad. Both are standard elevations, meaning they will be promoted for the game against the Eagles, and then revert to the practice squad.
Conley, who will wear number 84, is being elevated for the third time this season. A player can only be promoted to the active roster, from the practice squad, three times during the season. After the third elevation, the team can only sign the player to the active roster. Otherwise, he will stay on the practice squad for the duration of the season.
Conley is in his ninth NFL season. He played
49ers Notebook: Nine years later, 49ers get Thanksgiving revenge over Seahawks; Shanahan, Purdy discuss key throws vs. Seahawks; What happened to Christian McCaffrey's helmet?
It took nine years, but the San Francisco 49ers finally got some payback on Thursday night for the Seattle Seahawks feasting on turkey after a win at Levi's Stadium in 2014.
The Seahawks' 19-3 win over the 49ers on Thanksgiving in 2014 was the last time either team played on Thanksgiving before Thursday night, and after that game then-Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and cornerback Richard Sherman dug into the postgame turkey at the 50-yard line of Levi's Stadium at a time when the rivalry between the two teams was at a peak. The 49ers flipped the script on Thursday, notching a 31-13 win over the Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle that was followed by a slew of 49ers getting their fill of Thanksgiving turkey, courtesy of NBC.
"That was a moment I'll remember
