SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – Philosophical differences came between San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York and coach Jim Harbaugh, and ultimately they were too great to be repaired or worked on to the extent of maintaining a winning relationship.
That is York’s take on what transpired anyway. He and general manager Trent Baalke addressed Harbaugh’s departure a day later in what the owner reiterated was a “mutual decision.”
Players, meanwhile, cleaned out lockers and packed their belongings into large cardboard boxes, and began fielding questions about what they want in a new coach. Many said they’d love someone a lot like Harbaugh.
Of the expected internal candidates, defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, there is support for both. Neither York nor Baalke would say who they might interview in what they called an upcoming 7-10 day period.
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