The 49ers know all too well how Trent Baalke doesn't jive with head coaches, and that reputation still hasn't left the Jaguars' current general manager.
Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke has a reputation that includes two things:
- Drafting players coming off serious injuries.
- Surviving head coach purges
If this sounds a bit slanted (it is), just take it from a San Francisco 49ers perspective. After all, Baalke earned that reputation during his time in the Bay Area when, for starters, he made a habit of selecting more than a handful of college prospects whose NFL Draft stock was hindered by serious injuries.
Just go back and look at the 2013 draft when Baalke was the Niners' general manager.
Paralleling that time in San Francisco history was a more-than-subtle but still behind-the-scenes clash with then-head coach Jim Harbaugh, whose own unique personality made it understandable why tension was inevitable.
But, when Harbaugh and the 49ers "mutually" parted ways in January of 2015, Baalke remained in place.
A year later, when the Niners booted one-and-done head coach Jim Tomsula, Baalke still managed to convince CEO Jed York and Co. he was still the man for the job.
Of course, that all changed in 2017 when York opted to gut the entire front office, hiring John Lynch as general manager and Kyle Shanahan to replace another one-and-done, Chip Kelly, as head coach.
But, eight years later, Baalke is still carrying that reputation of clashing with head coaches and surviving front-office cleansing.
And it's not just the San Francisco fanbase that feels that way.
Jaguars retaining Trent Baalke is turning off potential head coaches
In a move that surprised precisely no one, the Jags opted to fire head coach Doug Pederson following three years at the helm and on the coattails of a disappointing 4-13 finish.
The surprise, however, was Jacksonville retaining Baalke, the chief architect of the roster.
Amid the early stages of yet another head-coaching search, one potential candidate told Sports Illustrated's John Shipley the decision to keep the general manager in place is a major obstacle:
"For the Jaguars to change direction, you have to actually change direction. Retaining Trent Baalke greatly diminishes my interest in that job. Lot's of promise, but same roadblocks."
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Under different circumstances, the Jaguars' job opening might be an enticing opportunity. The Jags have nearly $43 million in projected cap space in 2025, a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence and own the No. 5 overall pick in this year's draft. Plus, the AFC South isn't exactly a powerhouse division, meaning the road to a playoff berth would be much easier for a new coach.
That said, Baalke's previous tenure with the 49ers, paired with his existing reputation with the Jags, doesn't appear to be doing team owner Shad Khan any favors.
Niners fans understand that all too well.