San Francisco 49ers: It’s time to let CEO Jed York off the hook
By Peter Panacy
San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York hasn’t exactly been the most revered by the fanbase. But it appears as if he’s righted things in Santa Clara, meaning it’s OK to forgive him now.
For years, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York was public enemy No. 1 in the Bay Area.
Anyone who has been a fan of the Niners can recall the story. York played a significant role in the dismantling of the team from its last heyday during the Jim Harbaugh era, leading to the franchise reaching laughingstock status between the years 2015 and 2016.
It’s time to forgive York now.
San Francisco 49ers
This wasn’t going to be easy. After all, fans were willing to spend enough money to fly an anti-York banner above Levi’s Stadium on game days. Half-full crowds were also common. And the product on the field was terrible.
And York’s pressers after subsequent head coach firings? They were about as uncomfortable as it could get.
I’d like to think York heard the noise and learned from his mistakes. Ironically enough, York managed to poke some fun at himself following the Niners press conference officially announcing a record-breaking five-year deal for quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
“It’s weird because I rarely make mistakes,” York said jokingly, via Tracy Sandler of the Fangirl Sports Network.
Good one, Jed.
York has the right to mock himself without feeling too bad about it. After all, the face of the franchise has shifted to general manager John Lynch, and rightfully so. He’s good at that sort of thing, stemming from his days as a Fox analyst. And with Garoppolo and head coach Kyle Shanahan steering a team in the right direction, York can afford to feel pretty good right now.
Jed York’s Toughest Decision
Let’s rewind to the tail end of the 2016 season. The 49ers were about to finish 2-14, and York was looking at yet another dysfunctional relationship between a head coach, Chip Kelly, and general manager, Trent Baalke.
York had sided with Baalke for years, allowing Baalke to win out the power struggle that existed between he and Harbaugh.
Bad move, especially considering Niner Noise ranked Harbaugh the No. 3 Niners coach of all time.
Baalke was the constant, though, and it took York a few years to realize it. It was surely tough for the CEO to part ways with his former compadre. And it was going to be even tougher to part ways with Kelly, meaning the franchise would be onto its fourth head coach in as many years. That’s the mark of instability.
But it was the right move. Enter Shanahan and Lynch, and the rest is history in the making.
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Rewinding even further, it’s OK to make mistakes. Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo made a serious one shortly after taking over the franchise in 1977, bringing in Joe Thomas as general manager.
Thomas made Baalke look like a genius, as the former frequently sent off multiple high-profile NFL Draft picks for aging, broken players. Remember that trade for an old and ineffective O.J. Simpson back in 1978?
No? That’s good. Everyone forgets how DeBartolo whiffed on Thomas. The important thing is DeBartolo made up for it shortly thereafter, and the 49ers dynasty was born.
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For now, York seems to have made up for his mistakes too. It’s time we give him some credit for doing so.