Top 10 Biggest Mistakes the 49ers Have Made Since 2015
By Peter Panacy
No. 1: Letting Trent Baalke Win the Power Struggle over Jim Harbaugh
Sorry, Jim Harbaugh. You lost in Santa Clara. And we’re not talking about the record.
Remember the cracks showing within the organization — the ones which suggested a rift between Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke?
Just remember when Hall of Famer John Madden stated why a coach, with as great a track record as Harbaugh, should be a priority over a general manager. Madden felt Harbaugh should be retained if the rift was too large. Not Baalke — a “suit,” as Madden described.
Well, the opposite happened. San Francisco and one of its most successful head coaches “mutually” parted ways after 2014.
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And the franchise has been in tailspin mode ever since.
Things might not have been so bad if Baalke’s roster actually showed some signs of improvement. But it’s been a mess just as well.
Harbaugh probably would have gotten more out of the Niners roster, all else being equal, at this point. We can argue whether or not he wore out his welcome, or if he’s better at building championship-caliber teams instead of keeping them such.
Next: Round 3 of the NFL Draft Has Been a Disaster for 49ers GM Trent Baalke
Yet there’s not other single factor that ranks higher than this one in determining what’s gone wrong with the 49ers.