The 49ers fired Baalke just prior to the team's final game of the 2016 season and officially announced his departure on January 1. Baalke had officially served as the team's general manager from the 2011 season through the 2016 season. Prior to the team's final game of last season, a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium, Baalke confirmed that he had been fired.
Baalke was part of a house cleaning that saw the team fire the general manager and head coach Chip Kelly. Baalke was replaced with John Lynch while Kelly was replaced with Kyle Shanahan.
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 success together. 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.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers' Trent Williams explains why Deebo Samuel could be better than ever
Tackle Trent Williams is among the many San Francisco 49ers players excited to have wide receiver Deebo Samuel back on the roster. During Thursday night's broadcast of the preseason game against the Tennessee Titans, the veteran offensive lineman went so far as to say that the... -
Trent Williams makes a bold claim about the 49ers' D-line in 2026
The San Francisco 49ers' defensive front struggled with consistency last season, unable to consistently stop the run or pressure opposing quarterbacks. That came despite the team's top decision-makers emphasizing the drafting of stout run defenders and investing in pass-rush... -
49ers rookie Kaelon Black reflects on NFL debut, sees room for growth
San Francisco 49ers rookie running back Kaelon Black stepped onto an NFL field for the first time Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. The 49ers came away with a decisive 41-17 victory, and Black saw action with the first-team offense, finishing the night with eight... -
49ers pass-rush concerns influence 2027 NFL mock draft
The San Francisco 49ers' pass rush was ineffective last season, producing a disappointing 20 sacks—the fewest in the NFL. Of course, losing Nick Bosa for most of the season played a significant role in those struggles. Bosa is coming off a torn ACL, and despite dealing with...