Its Official? Harbaugh is Gone form the 49ers

[savvyman]

Next stop is Michigan.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/jim-harbaugh-reportedly-heading-to-michigan-141952911.html


Good job 49ers front office and ownership - Going to miss the best rivalry in all of sports.

[curmudgeon]

I will miss his whining to the referees, sideline histrionics and aneurysm inducing tantrums……

[RiverDog]

According to ESPN, the official announcement won't come until Tuesday.

[NorthHawk]

I read the ticker on the bottom of the screen, too, but PFT has a comment that the deal isn't yet done.

"Amid multiple reports that Harbaugh will return to the college ranks and become the next Michigan coach, Michigan alum Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that there’s no deal yet between Michigan and Harbaugh."

Later in the post:
"It could be a formality, given that Harbaugh still has a job — at least until 7:30 p.m. ET or so tonight. Or it could be that Harbaugh is still waiting for the Raiders or some other NFL team to come to the table with a competitive offer, the kind of offer that finally moves the top of the NFL coaching market upward, after a decade of stagnation."

I'm sure he's still gone, so it won't be the same without our main competitor wearing the Black Hat. Every good plot needs a bad guy.

[jshawaii22]

So, if SF doesn't 'fire' him, can he just quit and take the job with Michigan? He's under contract until through next year.

[Zorn76]

Word is SF would just let him go free if he takes Michigan job. If he still wants to be Oakland's HC, then I'm not sure what they do. Probably some kind of trade is worked out, or they just boot him from the building anyway. We'll see.

[obiken]

If a coach wants to go you could FORCE him to stay but why?? The Michigan job is the best for him, low expectations for 2 years and massive money.

[jshawaii22]

the team just released him and it looks like on Tuesday he'll be announced as the new Michigan Head Football Coach. Have fun against Ohio State, you shoulda taken the Raider's job.

js

[Seahawks4Ever]

Hairball can now a new title to his resume, QUITTER! Pete Carroll literally ran him out of the NFL, sweet revenge for Hairball running up the score on his Trojans.

[Futureite]

Next stop is Michigan.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-saturday/jim-harbaugh-reportedly-heading-to-michigan-141952911.html


Good job 49ers front office and ownership - Going to miss the best rivalry in all of sports.

What a fool we have for an owner. Turned us into a cluster-eff in 2010 and since that was not good enough, went for an encore in 2014 lol. Well, Hawks look good to repeat. Going to be an exciting postseason! Best match ups for me are Hawks/Cowboys and then if Hawks win, Hawks/Pats. Those two games would be epic for fans everywhere.

[NorthHawk]

The 49ers have given him his outright release so any team could sign him in any league.
Another NFL team would have to make a sweet offer to match the reported money from Michigan.

[savvyman]

What a fool we have for an owner. Turned us into a cluster-eff in 2010 and since that was not good enough, went for an encore in 2014 lol. Well, Hawks look good to repeat. Going to be an exciting postseason! Best match ups for me are Hawks/Cowboys and then if Hawks win, Hawks/Pats. Those two games would be epic for fans everywhere.

My perspective is pretty far away from the Harbaugh & 49er front office situation. Also I am not knowledgeable about how the locker room and Harbaugh is. This being said - from my perspective the 49ers are going to take a step backwards by getting rid of one of the most successful coaches - college and professional - over the past 8 years.

And any leader who would surprise his team with a last minute visit from "The Nature Boy" Wooooooooooo - on a freezing cold night in Green Bay before the biggest game of the year is all right with me - Wooooooooooooooo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oviTQ-4hJTY

[Hawk Sista]

If I had to pick a coach who I can be the most like during a football game, I'm embarrassed to say it might well be Harbaugh. Mind you I dont act like an ass at work, but I can watch a hawks game just like that dill weed. I'm not zen like at all. I'm more the WTF was THAT?????? Effin a-hole etc etc and so on.

They say you dislike people who are like you.... I will miss hating him on the opposing sideline.

[Seahawks4Ever]

I will miss Pete taking the high with Hairball, win or lose, where as JH would be crying to anybody who would listen that we either cheated or the officials messed up. Really, I was so glad a few years ago when the Ravens won the SB rather than the Whiners because brother John has a better personality than Jim. In fact, I NEVER called the Niners the "Whiners" until hairball became their coach.

I keep reading that Harbaugh "built" the 49ners. he nothing of the sort, they were already loaded with talent when he arrived, he just brought in a few key pieces and tweaked what was already there.

He might have cost his team a Lombardi Trophy by going with Kaepernick rather than A. Smith when he was healthy again. What happened this year is that their age caught up to them. Really, they were so talented for years but under achieved because they either hired a HC that wasn't ready to be the head man or fired a good coach too soon. Harbaugh brought stability, but, he KNEW that there was going to be some rebuilding to be done and didn't want a few losing seasons on his record so he wanted out.

[savvyman]

It is officially Official - 49er's and Harbaugh part ways.

From the comments that fans are leaving at the end of this article from the local San Francisco Newspaper - Most fan are not happy with Harbaugh leaving and are angry with the front office of the 49ers.

http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-win-in-what-is-expected-to-be-Harbaugh-s-5982521.php

[NorthHawk]

Any rumors about who they have on their wish list for HC?
We know a number of HCs will be fired tomorrow along with their staffs and there are some big names on that list, but would they rather get a first time NFL HC? If you read the comments from the latest link there seems to be a suggestion that they won't want a coach that will stand up to the FO. This might leave out some big names like Ryan, but others like Mike Smith who is more subtle might be a possibility.

[burrrton]

Haven't read the thread yet, but I just don't think Harbaugh was the issue- I think the guy can coach, and I think the Niners are making a mistake pinning their shortcomings (all) on him.

I guess we'll see.

[RiverDog]

Word is SF would just let him go free if he takes Michigan job. If he still wants to be Oakland's HC, then I'm not sure what they do. Probably some kind of trade is worked out, or they just boot him from the building anyway. We'll see.

My understanding is that if they fired him, they would owe him the balance of his contract if he stayed in the NFL, which would lead me to believe that they couldn't keep him from going to Michigan by virtue of his contract with the Niners. If that's the case and he is, indeed, heading to Michigan, there would be no sense in firing him as they're not going to have to pay him anyway. A messy divorce wouldn't be good for either party, certainly not the Niners as they have a big enough PR issue on their hands as it is.

I'm going to miss Harbaugh. We needed a villain, and he fit the role perfectly. Him and the Niners helped make us 12's what we are. We haven't had an intense rivalry since we moved out of the AFC West as it always seemed that when the Niners were good, we weren't so good and vice versa. Now we do.

As to a replacement, I understand that their DL coach would be a logical candidate if they choose to stay in-house. Like Future, if it were me, I'd look for a good offensive guy with a track record of developing quarterbacks. If Holmgren was 5 years younger, I'd be guessing that he'd be a candidate. Someone mentioned Josh McDaniels, but I'm not sure that his horrid performance in Denver is far enough in the past for him to get another head job, especially this one.

Today will be interesting. The average turnover for NFL head coaches is 6.8 per season, and we've already had two, Oakland's being the other. Rex Ryan is a given. After yesterday's sorry performance at home yesterday, I have to think that Mike Smith is a goner. Trestman and Coughlin could be gone, too.

[mykc14]

We needed a villain, and he fit the role perfectly.

I will agree he really did fit that role nicely, espeially when you combine him and Kaep. The good news is Kaep will still be there and they could still get another douche of a coach, although I think he might be one of a kind. As to having a villian for an opposing coach I suggest Arians from Arizona. Over the past 2 years he has done enough to put himself in that position, IMO. I know it is hard to dislike them completely when they have players like Fitz and a qb like palmer who seems like a decent guy, but they do have some real dirtbag defensive players like Darnell Dockett (I know he's been injured and is getting older), but I agree it probably won't ever be the same.

[c_hawkbob]

It boggles the mind to consider that cozying up with a pro wrassler would somehow make a douche like Hairball more palatable ... I'd be embarrassed.

[kalibane]

Any rumors about who they have on their wish list for HC?
We know a number of HCs will be fired tomorrow along with their staffs and there are some big names on that list, but would they rather get a first time NFL HC? If you read the comments from the latest link there seems to be a suggestion that they won't want a coach that will stand up to the FO. This might leave out some big names like Ryan, but others like Mike Smith who is more subtle might be a possibility.

The few names I've heard/read about outside the organization actually make me snicker a little.

From what I've heard Rex Ryan is out, he'd never mesh with the ownership/front office. And that makes me very happy. The last thing I want is that guy with all the defensive toys they have to play with. Maybe they never win a Super Bowl but every game would be a nightmare.

The two names I've heard so far are Jim Mora, Jr. and Kyle Shanahan. They might as well just flush their franchise down the toilet if they hire one of those guys, especially if it's Mora and he insists on bringing along Greg Knapp to call plays again.

[NorthHawk]

I just read in PFT that they want to talk to Adam Gase the OC of Denver.

[Hawktawk]

The few names I've heard/read about outside the organization actually make me snicker a little.

From what I've heard Rex Ryan is out, he'd never mesh with the ownership/front office. And that makes me very happy. The last thing I want is that guy with all the defensive toys they have to play with. Maybe they never win a Super Bowl but every game would be a nightmare.

The two names I've heard so far are Jim Mora, Jr. and Kyle Shanahan. They might as well just flush their franchise down the toilet if they hire one of those guys, especially if it's Mora and he insists on bringing along Greg Knapp to call plays again.

I think it might be early to write off Jim Mora. He has been in the league, had success in Atlanta, had no chance to clean up Holmgren and Russell's mess in Seattle, and has made UCLA somewhat relevant in a very tough conference. I'm really glad we have Carroll but I will always be a little embarrassed about the way Seattle treated Mora on the way out the door. Honestly I don't know if he would be a good fit in SF or not but I think the man can coach at the NFL level if he gets another shot.

[kalibane]

I don't think it has anything to do with him cleaning up "Holmgren's Mess" (which is really Ruskell's mess that Mora helped to create).

Mora did not have much success in Atlanta. He only lasted 3 years and only made the playoffs once behind Michael Vick (before the league figured out how to defend him) playing a last place schedule.

Mora is a good defensive coordinator and an okay NFL head coach. He'll never be anything more than that. The kicker is he usually brings Gregg Knapp along as an offensive coordinator and his play calling is putrid. My friends who are Falcons fans hated Knapp when he was there. My friends who are raider fans hated him when he was there. My friend who is a 49ers fan hated him when he was there. (We can ask Future too, I can't imagine he has great things to say). And I hated him in Seattle.

Mora got a bum deal purely in principle. Principle being that it takes more than a year to turn around a team, and so coaches almost always at least get two years. However, the truth of the matter is firing Mora was a harsh but intelligent move, no different than cutting bait with Harvin earlier this season.

I hope they hire Mora. If they hire Mora they will largely produces a 7-9 to 9-7 product year in and year out. They may peak at 10-6 one year but they will never be a consistent threat with him running the team.

[Hawktawk]

I hope they hire Mora. If they hire Mora they will largely produces a 7-9 to 9-7 product year in and year out. They may peak at 10-6 one year but they will never be a consistent threat with him running the team.Mora got a bum deal purely in principle. Principle being that it takes more than a year to turn around a team, and so coaches almost always at least get two years. However, the truth of the matter is firing Mora was a harsh but intelligent move, no different than cutting bait with Harvin earlier this season.

LOL I hope whoever they hire sucks. My one issue with Mora was the Hawks sending him out to do a season ending press conference then firing him afterwards. They were hedging their bets in case they couldn't reach an agreement with Carroll but it was a dishonest move.
Not sure what you mean about Mora creating the mess. Holmgren was there 10 years, Russell 5 and Mora 1 season at the helm and 2 total seasons in Seattle. The roster Mora had was a disaster not of his making. But as Ruskells boy he was a dead man walking when TR was shown the door.


Speaking of Holmgren he has apparently reached out to the 9ers. I don't think he would be any more successful than Mora and Kaepernick would give him a heart attack

[kalibane]

Not sure what you mean about Mora creating the mess. Holmgren was there 10 years, Russell 5 and Mora 1 season at the helm and 2 total seasons in Seattle. The roster Mora had was a disaster not of his making. But as Ruskells boy he was a dead man walking when TR was shown the door.

Holmgren was at odds with Ruskell over players from the gate. They bumped heads and Ruskell essentially forced Holmgren out. Mora was Ruskell's handpicked successor (back to their shared history in Atlanta) which was why he had that ridiculous "head coach in waiting" position. From the day Ruskell got there he started tearing down what Holmgren and Ted Thompson worked together to build.

Holmgren didn't hire Mora. Ruskell hired Mora the minute he was fired from Atlanta and brought him in to be Holmgren's successor. Over the three years he was here he had more influence with Ruskell regarding players (particularly on defense, and specifically DBs which was his 'area of expertise") than Holmgren did.

Ruskell was the biggest problem obviously but Mora was an extension of Ruskell and had a lot to do with shaping the team and creating the culture for the team that he knew he was going to be assuming control over and at least a year in advance.

I'd be shocked if they hire Holmgren. Holmgren is going to want more control than Baalke is willing to give up.

[Futureite]

It boggles the mind to consider that cozying up with a pro wrassler would somehow make a douche like Hairball more palatable ... I'd be embarrassed.

Cmon. Pete Carroll brought Snoop Dog into the Trojan's locker room for a pregame speech. He does a lot of things like that and I think it's great for moral and connecting with the team. Justin Smith and a few others of our guys were huge fans of pro wrestling, and that's why JH did it.

JH may be viewed as a "douche" elsewhere, but the vast majority of players and fans here loved him. As others here have posted here, we can only take a step back with whomever we hire now. This is all on Jed York for not making it work IMO.

I guess it is still just a game though and players/coaches come and go. I am looking forward to some great NFC football in the next couple weeks!

[kalibane]

I was trying to find what he was talking about, it just clicked. I guess he's talking about Rick Flair?

Bob... all due respect but we have had Macklemore and Drake at the Seahawks facility. I'm afraid Harbaugh holds the high ground in this debate.

[c_hawkbob]

I was trying to find what he was talking about, it just clicked. I guess he's talking about Rick Flair?

Bob... all due respect but we have had Macklemore and Drake at the Seahawks facility. I'm afraid Harbaugh holds the high ground in this debate.

Nope, sorry. I'm not a fan of either's music but no actual musician, no matter how distasteful the genre, is lower than a wrassler. Only someone like Milli Vanilli could rival that level of phony.

[Long Time Fan]

I guess it is still just a game though ....

This "its just a game" drum that you have taken to beating reminds me of people who fall for the first time, to their religious knees when their hopes collapse.

[Futureite]

Lol Christ man - I've taken that approach long before Harbaugh. My hopes are retiring, living a long life and enjoying it, so none of that was crushed yesterday. I have watched enough great football and attricious football over the past 35 yrs to know that things like this happen. You just have to roll with the ups and downs in life no matter what they are. I still love my team and tried to go to Sunday's game. I'll enjoy a no stress string of playoff watching this yr....silver lining.

[Long Time Fan]

I still love my team

All else aside that makes you a good fan in my book. I hope for the sake of the rivalry, that the 49ers stay competitive. That team's age would concern me a much as anything.

[kalibane]

I don't know Bob... I like rap (although admittedly very much less of a fan of today's rap) and even I'm embarrassed by allowing Mackelmore and Drake to affiliate themselves with the Seahawks.

On the other hand we do have Chrissy Teigan so that kind of balances things out.

[Futureite]

Longtime fan;

LOL I hope we stay competitive too! But honestly, who knows with all of the changes that are coming forth. Saving grace (for me) is that teams often pull a 180 even after coaching changes or injuries seem sure to tank them. The Rams of the early 2000's are one of example of that. So who knows.

What we do know right now is that the Seahawks have assembled what may be the next great dynasty in pro football. Hate to say it, but I am also a fan of the truth. They do not appear to have any real weakness right now, have locked up key players for a good period of time, and they are a very young team.

These type of changes are what makes the game and life in general fun. New challenges, changing of the guard, etc.

[monkey]

I keep hearing rumblings that indicate that the Niner front office didn't like Harbaugh's strong personality, and his desire for control. But they have to realize that that is a quality that nearly all of the great coaches have had. Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, and so on, were all strong willed, different styles, but each strong in their way.

I agree completely, the one caveat I will add though, is that, while Harbaugh is both a winner and strong personality, the difference between his personality and those you listed above, is that Harbaugh's antics and his college attitude wears thin quickly on professionals.
I've always felt that he was better suited for the college ranks personality wise, as he can be exactly who he is, and everyone will love him for it, and the players will continue to cycle through every four years, and never be there long enough to tire of his act.

Still, I'll never understand why a team that had a track record as good as the Niners did under Harbaugh, decided against the head coach in an argument between the coach and the GM...it makes no sense at all to me.
If I were a Niners fan. I'd be so ticked! Then again, I also would have been ticked (and still would be) the day that they went to Kaepernick instead of Alex Smith, who I think was, and still would be a better fit for that team.
I'm convinced that had Harbaugh not made that switch, he'd still be coaching the Niners, because Smith would have won that Superbowl, but we'll never know now.

[Zorn76]

It's been funny reading comments from 49er fans from around the 'net, saying that they can't believe SF is doing this (Firing Harbaugh), and that they should've kept him.

What part of beyond repair to these people not understand?

LOL, geez, if it were as simple as just having these guys sit down and clear the air and everything being fine afterwards, then that's what would've taken place.

Instead, it's beyond obvious that this HC/GM/CEO relationship was done, and really had been that way going back months before the season began. And once the story broke of a possible trade of Harbaugh to the Browns last offseason, it was on.

That was pretty much the domino that started the mess. Coupled with injuries, suspensions, arrests, and losses...that's what brings us to today.

The only way JH was gonna stay was if he won a SB this year, and by October folks could tell that wasn't gonna happen.

I don't know who they'll hire, but I doubt very much it's gonna be idiots like Mora Jr. or McDaniels. I haven't heard much about it recently, but I'd love for Holmgren to get the job. He'd be a good coach for them right now, and it would keep the rivalry from getting too lopsided in our favor.

[monkey]

Holmgren makes so much sense really. He loves the area, he has always to coach that team, he's available, and still wants to coach, and he's the classy sort of guy with a big enough name to wipe away the stench of this last screw up.
It's the closest they could do to bringing back Bill Walsh.

[kalibane]

Then again, I also would have been ticked (and still would be) the day that they went to Kaepernick instead of Alex Smith, who I think was, and still would be a better fit for that team.
I'm convinced that had Harbaugh not made that switch, he'd still be coaching the Niners, because Smith would have won that Superbowl, but we'll never know now.

You serioulsy believe that Monkey after the NFC championship against the Giants? Keep in mind we just watched a season where with today's passing rules Alex Smith went through the entire season failing to throw a single TD to a WR.

My opinion? There is no way the 49ers win that superbowl because if it weren't for Green Bay's complete inability to deal with Kaepernick in the read option they would have never even made it past the division round. And after 2012 what on earth was SF going to to against Seattle when Alex Smith will only throw between the hash marks and we have Earl Thomas patroling the middle.

They had to go to Kaepernick. It was the right choice. I can maybe see the argument to go out and get a veteran (which they tried to do with Peyton), but Alex Smith would have just made the 9er offense even more predictable than it already is, and in a division with the defenses the NFC west has that ain't good.

[Futureite]

It's been funny reading comments from 49er fans from around the 'net, saying that they can't believe SF is doing this (Firing Harbaugh), and that they should've kept him.

What part of beyond repair to these people not understand?

LOL, geez, if it were as simple as just having these guys sit down and clear the air and everything being fine afterwards, then that's what would've taken place.

Instead, it's beyond obvious that this HC/GM/CEO relationship was done, and really had been that way going back months before the season began. And once the story broke of a possible trade of Harbaugh to the Browns last offseason, it was on.

That was pretty much the domino that started the mess. Coupled with injuries, suspensions, arrests, and losses...that's what brings us to today.

The only way JH was gonna stay was if he won a SB this year, and by October folks could tell that wasn't gonna happen.

I don't know who they'll hire, but I doubt very much it's gonna be idiots like Mora Jr. or McDaniels. I haven't heard much about it recently, but I'd love for Holmgren to get the job. He'd be a good coach for them right now, and it would keep the rivalry from getting too lopsided in our favor.

So you can't understand how we're pissed at a family that has fired every successful coach under its tenure and hired complete flops in place of them? Mariucchi gone in place of Erickson/Nolan/Singletary. Harbaugh gone in place of....?

We're also none too happy with the manner in which this was handled all year long. From preseason reports of a trade to Cleveland to the Thanksgiving Tweet. The Yorks and their son have no business in professional football. You cannot run a football team like your restaurant business, ordering around qualified people and firing them at will with no plan in place moving forward.

This entire issue runs levels deeper than the JH V Jed relationship, and it calls into question Jed's ability to structure a quality FO or defuse problems as they arise. Jed's attitude during his tenure here has not endeared himself to our fanbase or given us any reason to trust in his abilities. The hiring of JH was a preverbial "layup" that fell into his lap, and he screwed it up in record time. In every other instance, be it conflict or internal hirings, he's proven completely inept.

Also, I am not a big fan of Baalke. They are both too arrogant for their own good IMO and god help us if we hire Josh freaking McDaniels now. LOL talk about a clash of personalities. That would be another epic fail.

[Zorn76]

Futureite,

I'm speaking more to how many fans out there seem shocked that this happened, when the writing had clearly been on the wall all year, as you mentioned in your post as well.

When you know something is coming for several months, and had been set in motion going back nearly a year, it shouldn't come as a surprise when it comes to fruition.

Of course I understand why fans like yourself would be pissed. Who wouldn't be with the end result? My commentary is the relationship, it turns out, was in accord with what had been written and picked up steam by week 1. And keeping that in mind, I would think it would lend itself to cushioning the blow, since it's been brewing for some time, and there was no hint whatsoever that either side was willing to budge.

I also agree that Jed appeared to have wanted this to happen. He seemed to be looking for any excuse he could find to run his HC out of town. It would've been really interesting to be a fly on the wall during the conversations that he and Harbaugh had privately. We'll never know, but I could envision it getting very heated. I think it's reasonable to assume, especially given JH's personality, that it likely was not cordial most of the time. Maybe Jed got just as heated as his coach behind the scenes as well, who knows.

As for the 49ers moving forward, I do think they will survive this situation, and I expect them to be a playoff team next season. I think Jed, despite what went down today, will be able to find replacement to get the team going again. Who that is, I dunno. Again, I doubt very much it will be Mora or McDaniels. Both of those clowns have proven beyond a shout of a doubt that they're not HC material at the NFL level.

The main thing, IMO, is SF needs to get healthy. That issue really exacerbated everything else that took place this season. The biggest question mark moving forward is if the new HC stands by Kaepernick. Personally, I do believe he can be salvaged. I think his story is still being written, and that his upside or potential has not fully been reached.

I also think Colin needs to grow up a little bit, and dig deeper in terms of ignoring his critics and having a thicker skin. He needs to know his coach has his back, and he needs a fresh, knowledgeable approach to assist in grooming him into the QB I think he can be. If they find somebody better next season to lead the team at the position, so be it. But I certainly wouldn't cast CK aside without painstakingly going through a thorough assessment.