Trent Baalke Announced As San Francisco 49ers GM

The San Francisco 49ers have hired their GM. As it was widely expected, the team will roll with Trent Baalke, an in-house candidate, after interviewing several candidates. The 49ers have officially announced the move and indicated that Baalke will be responsible for hiring the head coach after Mike Singletary was fired earlier this season.

“Trent has done an exceptional job in his role as Vice President of Player Personnel and throughout his tenure with the 49ers,” said 49ers President & CEO Jed York. “I have had the benefit of watching Trent closely in the recent months and have been very impressed with his knowledge and leadership. I am confident that Trent will find the 49ers an excellent head coach who will lead us to great success in the coming years.”

The 49ers requested permission to interview Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson for their head coaching job before this news came out so that should have been a clue that they were going with someone who was already in-house. The 49ers have said previously the GM will pick the coach.

“I would like to thank Jed York and the York family for this tremendous opportunity,” said Baalke. “It is an honor to be named the General Manager of the San Francisco 49ers, a franchise with a history filled by some of the game’s greatest players, coaches and executives. I look at this role as one of great responsibility - to not only the history of the franchise, but also to the 49ers Faithful. My entire focus is now dedicated to finding the next head coach of the 49ers.”

As for that last line about the coach, the question every 49ers fan wants to know: What about Jim Harbaugh? Check out out StoryStream on all Jim Harbaugh news.

Baalke’s tenure is off to a good start as 74 percent of 49ers fans think he’ll make a good GM. Check out Niners Nationto see what fans are saying.