Trent Baalke screws over 49ers one last time after being fired by Jaguars

Trent Baalke already did damage to the 49ers' search for a new defensive coordinator, and now his firing inadvertently just hurt the Niners more.

To quote Fangirl Sports Network's Tracy Sandler, "timing is everything in life, and the Jaguars have perhaps the worst timing of all time."

This, of course, is in reference to Wednesday's blockbuster news about the Jacksonville Jaguars dismissing general manager Trent Baalke from his duties, a move that probably should have happened in parallel with the firing of head coach Doug Pederson at the end of the 2024 regular season.

But it didn't, which led to Baalke sitting right alongside Jags owner Shad Khan when it was time to conduct yet another search for yet another head coach.

It's comical enough from Jacksonville's perspective. NFL circles were shocked Khan didn't fire Baalke alongside Pederson, and further reports hinted at potential coaching candidates being turned off by the head-coaching opening because of Baalke's presence and history of coach clashes.

Then, the Jaguars missed out on top coaching names, particularly Ben Johnson going to the Chicago Bears. And, in what seemed to be the final nail in Baalke's coffin in Duval County, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen opted to stay put rather than continue as the Jags' primary target.

Even Khan could read the proverbial tea leaves. If he wanted a good head coach, Baalke had to go.

So, where do the San Francisco 49ers fit into all of this?

Unfortunately, the Niners are paying awfully close attention to the developments. And it's not just to reminisce about Baalke's own tumultuous tenure with San Francisco that finally concluded in 2017, leading to general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan's hiring that year.

Shanahan and the 49ers need a new defensive coordinator after dismissing Nick Sorensen earlier this offseason, and ousted New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh is the unquestioned No. 1 candidate. The Niners have done awfully little work elsewhere in case a would-be Saleh re-hire falls through.

Baalke likely had a say in trying to lure Saleh back to Jacksonville, the latter's employer prior to joining Shanahan's staff in 2017.

And it's hard to deny Baalke would have relished the opportunity to "stick it" to his former San Francisco employer, too.

Related story: Robert Saleh would be foolish to accept Jaguars head-coaching job

Now, by way of his firing, Baalke inadvertently just made things more difficult for the 49ers' efforts to bring Saleh back. With Baalke now fully out of the way, the one-time Niners defensive coordinator can assume more responsibilities without the Baalke-related risks associated with working alongside him.

Of note, Saleh is returning to Jacksonville for additional interviews later in the week. Baalke won't be there.

San Francisco probably wishes he was still there, serving as a deterrent to Saleh's aspirations for longevity.

By getting fired, Baalke just threw a wrench into the 49ers' plans... again.

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