The Grass Isn’t Always Greener

Typically relationship splits boil down to two or more parties being unable to get on the same page with one another. It works the same in personal relationships, in the business world, and in the realm of professional sports. In 2011, Jim Harbaugh was hired to be the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh had a tall task ahead of him as he was taking over a 49ers team that had not posted a winning record since 2002 which was also the last time that they made the playoffs. But in Harbaugh’s first year in San Francisco, he turned the 49ers around as they finished with a record of 13-3 and earned a berth in the NFC Championship Game. In 2012, Harbaugh would lead the 49ers to their first Super Bowl appearance since January 1995 as they were within a whisker of winning the Vince Lombardi Trophy when they fell to the Baltimore Ravens.

In each of Harbaugh’s first three years in San Francisco, the 49ers at least reached the NFC Championship Game and the team that eliminated them from the playoffs on each of those occasions would go on to win the Super Bowl as you were simply left to wonder what could have been for San Francisco.

Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo oversaw the team’s dynasty of the 1980’s and 1990’s which led to five Super Bowl Championships and he commonly referred to it as Camelot. The 49ers are currently owned by DeBartolo’s nephew Jed York and things are currently far from resembling what was once described as Camelot in San Francisco.

In spite of the success on Harbaugh’s watch, he consistently clashed with Niners general manager Trent Baalke. The problems between these two men were highly publicized and it almost led to Harbaugh being traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2014 before cooler heads prevailed. But this ship had already left the port as Harbaugh’s relationship with Baalke trickled down to the team as the 49ers finished 2014 with a record of 8-8. And as soon as the regular season ended, the Niners publically announced that the team and Harbaugh mutually agreed to part ways, but in actuality the front office simply told their head coach that his services were no longer needed.

Harbaugh landed on his feet immediately as he was named as the head football coach at the University of Michigan a few days later while he was replaced in San Francisco by Jim Tomsula.

During the past off-season the 49ers got more than what they bargained for as offensive tackle Anthony Davis, defensive end Justin Smith and linebackers Patrick Willis and Chris Borland all decided to retire. This was followed by the 49ers releasing outside linebacker Aldon Smith and defensive lineman Ray McDonald over the summer following their numerous off-the-field issues. The 49ers also allowed their all-time leading rusher in running back Frank Gore to leave in free agency as he signed with the Indianapolis Colts. And what you’ve gotten if you’re the 49ers through the first seven games of the 2015 National Football league season is a record of 2-5 as this team is a shell of itself from just two years ago.

A big part of the 49ers current problems start and end with quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick was the drafted in the second round of the 2011 National Football League Draft by the 49ers and he helped the team reach Super Bowl 47. As a starting quarterback, Kaepernick has a record of 27-19, but he had his success under Harbuagh. Aside from being a tremendous head coach, Harbuagh enjoyed a 14-year NFL career as a quarterback which means that he knows a thing or two about the position. Primarily Kaepernick is a spread offense quarterback who is at his best when he is on the move which is something that Harbaugh was able to magnify. Now the 49ers are attempting to turn Kaepernick into a pocket passer which is something that he is struggling with mightily. Through seven games this season Kaepernick has thrown 6 touchdown passes to 5 interceptions. Kaepernick has also been sacked 25 times this year and he is well on his way to being sacked more than the 52 that he suffered in 2014 as he simply appears uncomfortable and in the process has become the poster boy for the 49ers struggles.

The Niners are currently 26th in the National Football League in total offense and 31st in total defense which are both categories that they were revered in under Harbaugh as this team has simply lost their identity and semblance of order with Tomsula taking orders from Baalke. Some 49er players claimed that Harbaugh pushed them too much, but he turned them into winners as he has never shied away from his old-school work ethic that has a foundation of hard work. And that work ethic was why San Francisco won under Harbaugh being that they were one of the most mentally tough and physical teams in football.

And whereas some of the pros in the NFL were ready to tune out Harbaugh’s message of hard work and dedication, he has found some young ears that are willing to listen at Michigan. Through seven games at Michigan, Harbaugh’s record is 5-2 which has already matched the team’s win total from 2014 as this sleeping giant is reemerging on the national scene while the Niners are on pace for their first losing season since 2010.

The egos of York and Baalke are why Harbaugh is no longer in San Francisco as this organization must look at itself and realize that the head coach that they decided to part with was a big reason for their success.

Tomsula has a difficult job on his plate now as he is trying to keep a sinking ship afloat, but the S.S. 49ers is already taking on too much water and pretty soon, a distress signal will be going out. Tomsula and Baalke must ask themselves if Kaepernick is their guy going forward. But at the same time it might be the right moment for the 49ers to completely start over from scratch. Sometimes in life people don’t appreciate something until it’s gone. And maybe one day the 49ers front office will look back and realize that they goofed on letting Harbaugh leave town.