Jed York gets grilled on Harbaugh departure

Submitted by dankbrogoblue on

Link is here

This is transcript of radio host Brian Murphy speaking very candidly with Jed York on the Harbaugh departure, providing a lot of insight to the rift that led us to get our guy. I found this to be a pretty fascinating read, as I sympathize with the 49ers fans.

I thought about an OT tag, but York does mention Michigan, also notably saying Harbaugh chose between Michigan and the 49ers in 2011, which is the most substantial evidence I've heard that he was offered the job back then.

P.S. This is not intended to be grave-stomping.

Yostbound and Down

December 30th, 2014 at 10:25 PM ^

I listened to him and Baalke do the presser yesterday. There were some aggressive reporters. And Jed York's idea of accountability seems like he has no fucking clue. I can see why someone like Harbaugh would butt heads with him (I don't get the disagreements between him and Baalke so much) because York just seems like an arrogant ass.

alum96

December 30th, 2014 at 10:30 PM ^

York is basically the west coast version of Snyder and Jones but NOT self made like I believe those 2 are.  At least those guys made their fortunes (I think) so if they act like idiots its one thing.  York is just a trust fund baby ass.

PurpleStuff

December 30th, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^

Jerry was an all-SWC player at Arkansas.  He was also the GM of the Cowboys when they built that early 1990's dynasty, and despite the criticism (some valid) he did win another Super Bowl after Johnson left.  And has a decent team again now.

He probably doesn't know as much as he thinks he does, but he has infinitely more football credibility than those other guys.

ldoublee

December 30th, 2014 at 10:34 PM ^

York's family is from Youngstown where I live. His dad was a complete idiot who knew nothing at all about football when his wife took over ownership from her brother Eddie D. when he got into trouble for bribing people in Louisiana over casinos. Old man York gave zero shits about the 49ers and the organization was a joke. They gave control to their kid and he is trying to be Eddie D. Part 2, except people loved Eddie D. Jed...not so much.

LSAClassOf2000

December 30th, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^

I personally believe he should be grilled on this endlessly. As I have mentioned in other threads, their loss is our tremendous gain and I am grateful, but it is the mismanagement of the 49ers that will haunt York for a long time, in my opinion. The inability to put his differences with Jim Harbaugh aside and unite in the success of the team will probably be his undoing in time.

Thegreatbluehype

December 30th, 2014 at 10:49 PM ^

I live in the Bay Area and seldom listen to the radio. However I have listened to local sports shows all day and it has been comical to say the least. Even this morning they were telling listeners what Oakland could do to pry Harbaugh away from Michigan.

One thing they have been constantly saying on repeat is that the niners royally messed this up.

Ryno2317

December 30th, 2014 at 11:01 PM ^

I'll tell you what ... Good luck ever hiring a decent coach again. Wow. York is an idiot and a liar. But thanks for fucking up guys. I smell a 30 for 30 in the near future.

phork

December 30th, 2014 at 11:35 PM ^

I am still in utter disbelief.  Not that Harbaugh went to UM, but the 49er management totally jailsexxed themselves.  You just let go a coach that brought you to 3 NFC championship games, winning 1 and losing in a superbowl.  Had a down year this year at 8-8, in my opinion due to injuries. 

I read an article the other day about how Bill Walsh was notoriously difficult to get along with but Debartolo constantly fixed the issues between him and management.  Because really, winning is everything and Harbaugh was winning A LOT.  Probably an unprecedented pace at 12 wins a year in his 4 years.

Just mind boggling.

PurpleStuff

December 30th, 2014 at 11:39 PM ^

I'm not an NFL fan at all, but it seems like paying for a coach and getting a name guy isn't necessarily the way to success, at least in the minds of ownership.  Plenty of winners haven't been able to replicate it in different circumstances (just the nature of the league, it's hard to be really good and it's harder when you have Steve Beuerlein instead of Steve Young).  Meanwhile the top coaches seem to all be guys who somebody took a flyer on.

Belichick was 36-44 with the Browns over five years.  Went back to being a Parcells assistant for four years, started 5-13 in New England, then Tom Brady fell into his lap via injury and the guy becomes a legend.  Mike Tomlin was a defensive coordinator for one year with the Vikings before getting the Steelers job (where he's had success with the same QB Cowher won a Super Bowl with two years earlier).  John Harbaugh was never a coordinator before getting the Ravens job. 

Chuck Pagano has virtually the same winning percentage as Jim Harbaugh.  Jim Caldwell has been to a Super Bowl and just led the Lions to one of their best seasons ever.  I had to look up who both of them were.

I think NFL owners don't want to spend money when they don't have to and they see a recipe for success that doesn't involve paying a high profile coach, and certainly not giving one personnel power or a huge salary.  I think most are reluctant to make the deal Carroll and Kelly got (and Belichick got after winning multiple Super Bowls).  That is what Harbaugh could/would demand presumably, so I guess that explains them trying or being willing to cut bait now. 

I honestly wonder how much Kaepernick plays a role in this.  If he's Jim's guy and they don't think he's the guy they need to be elite consistently, does that force this decision and set about a roster turnover at the position (and probably a change in offensive philosophy as well).

M-Dog

December 31st, 2014 at 12:37 AM ^

I agree in the sense that in the NFL, elite players matter more than elite coaches.  GM's are as important as coaches.  It is much easier for an elite coach to have an impact in college than in the NFL which is structurally set up to spread player talent across all the teams.

There are at least a dozen college programs where Nik Saban could do what he did at Alabama.  He's the difference maker, not the schools.  Same thing with Urban Meyer.  He's a great coach, and it has little to do with Ohio State per se.  He would have done the same thing at Notre Dame, Michigan, or a pre-sanctions Penn State.

So it makes sense for Michigan to sell out to get Harbaugh.  It's a no-brainer.  

PurpleStuff

December 31st, 2014 at 12:51 AM ^

I wonder if the trend will continue as NFL teams continue to pinch their pennies knowing the cash is coming in no matter what and that they might as well keep recycling guys or promoting coordinators who will take the job for less cash.  And will NCAA teams continue to spend for the cream of the crop guys with proven track records.  This makes me all the more curious about how legit the NFL offers for Harbaugh were and for how much dough and for how much control.  Do the Raiders, for example, really want to bet the farm that he can right the ship and be the personnel guy, and if he succeeds how much do they have to pay him then?

It will be interesting to see what happens after the playoffs this year.  If, say, Carroll, wins a second Super Bowl do teams start throwing money and control at guys like Saban, Harbaugh or somebody currently out of coaching who has won before?  Or will teams continue to gamble on no-name guys and retreads and hope they land a franchise QB who gets along with them?

PurpleStuff

December 31st, 2014 at 1:07 AM ^

I doubt the Niners are going after a BCS-bowl winning college coach after what just went down and they aren't going to poach a currently successful NFL coach.  So the candidates are retreads, more middle of the road college coaches (I'm thinking like Mariucci was when he got the job there) and coordinators.  Those guys are presumably going to jump at the job unless they have a better offer.  And even then, wouldn't they rather have the Niners current talent than go to maybe the Raiders or Bears, even assuming they are that desired as to have multiple teams after them?

sierragold

December 31st, 2014 at 6:22 AM ^

Michigan Fans should send York a Fruit Basket!

I could kiss the guy, I don't know what he done or how he done it, but Michigan is the biggest winner.

Harbaugh is home!

Jim Harbaugh was beat up in the press for months, hopefully the homecoming that the Michigan Fans gave him has washed some of that away.

Go Blue!