Former 49ers general manager Trent Baalke has found employment within the league office.
The NFL has hired Baalke in an advisory role, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
NFL hired former 49ers GM Trent Baalke as Football Operations Consultant, per sources. Will handle a variety of roles for the NFL.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2017
In his advisory role for NFL, Trent Baalke will work on game-related matters, player development and evaluation, officiating video review.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 6, 2017
49ers CEO Jed York fired Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly on Jan. 1, hours after the team finished 2-14. Reports of the firings leaked on New Year’s Eve.
In his last interview on KNBR, Baalke confirmed he’d been fired. He also supported York’s move to get rid of Kelly and re-set the culture.
“Sometimes you need to re-set the culture,” Baalke said. “When you have a winning culture, which we did in 2011, 12, 13 and 14, a lot of good football players. A lot of memorable games we went through together. Then you transition. At some point, those veteran guys move on. Blending in with younger guys, and sometimes it takes a little longer than you’d like. And this is probably one of those situations. But I do think there’s some very good young talent on this team. With a good offseason, the right re-set, I think good things are ahead for them.”
Baalke’s flaws in constructing a roster were daily discussions in 49ers world the past couple of years. Ignoring the quarterback and wide receiver positions and focusing draft picks on size alone didn’t amount to much. The coaching changes didn’t help, but there’s a reason Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch gutted the roster. There were many debacles under Baalke’s watch, including the incessant drafting of injured prospects, his handling of the Adam Gase non-hiring and his break down of communication with Kelly.
It wasn’t all bad with Baalke, who won the NFL’s executive of the year award in 2011. The 49ers went 36-11-1 for three straight seasons, advancing to three NFC championship games and one Super Bowl. Colin Kaepernick and Jim Harbaugh were bordering legendary status in the Bay Area. It was the best of times.
But Baalke and York’s relationship soured with Harbaugh, and the two clung together, eventually forcing out one of the best coaches in football. Many 49ers fans have not gotten over the breakup.
York repeatedly said in a Jan. 2 press conference he was seeking to “reestablish a championship culture.” He pulled the rug out from underneath the football world when he unveiled Lynch and Shanahan as his next leaders.
There were rumors Baalke would wind up in a front office role with the Broncos, but he chose to go the league route instead. Baalke will be working closely with executive vice president Troy Vincent, who addressed the 49ers players via video on all the rules changes last week. Originally taking over in 2010, the 49ers combined to go 15-33 in Baalke’s last three seasons.
“It didn’t surprise me,” Baalke said. “We’ve done some awful good things. Some very successful seasons. Unfortunately regret we weren’t able to bring a championship to the Bay Area, which they so deserve. I think The Faithful has been great. Wish this organization nothing but the best moving forward. I do see a bright future for them.”