49ers Return to Relevance is About More than Jim Harbaugh

There is a pretty big fallacy many make when dissecting and discussing the San Francisco 49ers. These individuals fail to look further into the organizational structure of the franchise and draw a conclusion that San Francisco’s turnaround started under Harbaugh. It’s basically a surface-based argument simply because the team started to have on-field success when Harbaugh began manning the sideline.

In order to understand what is happening in San Francisco as it prepares to miss the playoffs for the first time in four years, we need to make sure we have all of our ducks in a row regarding the organization itself.

Tearing Down the Old Culture of Failure

Jed York, nephew of former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, became the team’s president back in 2008. And while his parents retained co-chairman roles at that point, York took over control of the day-to-day operations of the franchise. In a move that had silver spoons written all over it, the initial public reaction to York’s promotion wasn’t too kind.

But the back story is interesting here. York isn’t only the nephew of a former 49ers owner, he’s the grandson of a man in Eddie DeBartolo Sr. who set in motion the 49ers turnaround from irrelevance in the 1970’s to Super Bowl champions just a few short years later. He attended his first 49ers game in 1984 and considers himself a die-hard of the red and gold. To the younger York, the 49ers are more than just business. They are his life.

So when the now 34-year-old owner of the 49ers shows passion following success and/or failure, it’s important to know where he’s coming from.

Immediately after taking over a larger role in the 49ers organization, York set in motion plans to build a new stadium in Northern California. A plan that had failed so many times in the past.

To say that getting Levi’s Stadium built in the socioeconomic and political climate of California would be an understatement, as ESPN’s Seth Wickersham pointed out back in October of 2013. 

A miracle. It’s strange to ascribe that term to a $1.3 billion building. But it fits. This particular stadium is being constructed in a region surrounded by cash-strapped counties, in a state that hasn’t built a pro football venue in almost 50 years. It will open a year ahead of schedule. It will not only host the 2015 Super Bowl but house a Super Bowl contender, only four years after the 49ers were as irrelevant as the hopes for a new stadium were dismal.

In the process of providing a strong foundation behind the scenes in Santa Clara, York also surrounded himself with some of the greatest minds sports has to offer. Current 49ers co-owner Gideon Yu previously held the title of CFO (Chief Financial Officer) at both Facebook and You Tube. He led the latter to unprecedented growth as it relates to online streaming video media. Yu was the perfect hire to oversee the financing and subsequent erection of Levi’s Stadium.

Then you have team president Paraag Marathe, who is seen as one of the best salary cap guys in the sport. He’s helped San Francisco remain viable as it relates to the health of its cap as the team’s chief contract negotiator. He’s also played an integral role in utilizing a new philosophy, since adapted by other teams, of structuring contracts away from the old mold. This is to say, Marathe and the 49ers get a tad tricky with the books. Game-day bonuses, workout bonuses, salary escalators/de-escalators etc…

This may all seem a bit tedious to the average fan, but it speaks to the growth of the 49ers organization after a 10-year span that saw the likes of Dwight Clark run it into the ground. As important as those making the personnel decisions, these behind-the-scenes movers and shakers help create an environment of professionalism and success within the organization itself.

Building Up the Player Personnel Department

As much as the 49ers have struggled on the field this season, no one on their right mind believes that this team is going to revert back to cellar-dweller status anytime soon.

Just look at the 2014 draft class for a second. Outside of first-round pick Jimmie Ward, who saw a promising rookie campaign cut short by an injury back in November, San Francisco’s rookie class is one of the best in the NFL.

Second-round pick Carlos Hyde, who has seen his playing time decrease a tad recently, is the heir-apparent to Frank Gore at running back. A tough runner, who possesses surprising speed for his size, Hyde is averaging over four yards per touch and has four touchdowns on the season.

Fellow second rounder Marcus Martin had to take over for Daniel Kilgore at center when the latter went down seven games into the season. While Martin has had his struggles here and there, no one in the 49ers organization believes he’s going to ride the bench from this point on. Seen by some as a first-round pick, Martin has performed well for someone that was thrown to the wolves at a difficult position as a rookie.

Linebacker Chris Borland, who replaced an injured Patrick Willis in the lineup back in Week 7, is a top candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s racked up nearly 100 total tackles in just the last seven games alone. Think about that for a second.

San Francisco also boasts a number of mid-to-late round picks who have played at exceptionally high levels this season, among them linebacker Aaron Lynch and cornerback Dontae Johnson. 

It’s this type of team building that will keep the 49ers afloat, even when inevitable roster changes come to pass…some after this season.

It’s also this type of forward-thinking mentality that the 49ers created when they made current general manager Trent Baalke an important part of the organization back in 2008. He became the team’s director of player personnel under then general manager Scot McCloughan. When McCloughan departed prior to the 2010 draft, Baalke was selected to run the 49ers war room.

This draft saw the 49ers pick up future All-Pro players Mike Iupati and NaVorro Bowman as well as a stud right tackle in the form of Anthony Davis.

The next year, Harbaugh’s first with the team, San Francisco continued this momentum on draft day(s) by adding Aldon Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Chris Culliver, Daniel Kilgore and Bruce Miller to the mix.

And while the 49ers struggled big time finding anyone of significance in the 2012 NFL draft, Baalke has done a darn good job finding both elite-level talent and mid-round talent during his tenure in the 49ers front office.

When a team is able to build a talented roster, it then becomes a necessity to move on from one core group of players to another much cheaper and younger group. And to be perfectly honest, the 2014 season seems to be that transitional period for this team. Above all else, this could also be one of the reasons for their struggles in 2014. It’s called a lack of identity.

Jim Harbaugh

Harbaugh has been one of the most successful head coaches in the NFL since he took over a then fledgling team back in 2011. This much cannot be denied.

However, it’s extremely important to note that the pieces were in place for success prior to him being hired by the 49ers. They had a ton of young talent, were building a strong front office, and possessed a clear organizational structure from top to bottom. There is no telling whether Harbaugh would have succeeded if he had taken over a 49ers team much like the versions Mike Singletary or Mike Nolan took over before him.

Few new head coaches take over a roster with four potential Hall of Famers already in their prime. This much has been lost in the entire situation, at least publicly and when it comes to the media.

Would the 49ers take a step back if Harbaugh were to move on following the 2014 season? That’s an entirely plausible scenario. It’s also possible the 49ers will be able to bring in a better in-game head coach, who doesn’t struggle calling a game on the offensive side of the ball or who isn’t so stubborn.

See. That’s the issue with Harbaugh here. Call him stubborn or loyal, but there is no reason that Greg Roman should be calling plays for the 49ers right now. That’s simply not acceptable, especially considering Roman’s own track record.

Outside of the obvious dysfunction between Harbaugh and the team’s front office, there is something larger at play here. A clash of egos may very well be in play, as is the 49ers unwillingness to pay a head coach that hasn’t won a Super Bowl top-five money.

Now this isn’t to bash on Harbaugh in any way. All things equal, we can pretty much guarantee the 49ers future would be bright if Harbaugh signed an extension tomorrow.

It’s more about understanding the nuance of the situation and looking beyond the surface. Sure, Harbaugh is one of the primary reasons that San Francisco has had success. So is Trent Baalke. So is Gideon Yu. So is Paraag Marathe.

Each of these individuals have played a vital role in the previous success (and yes the current struggles) of the 49ers football team on the field. But to indicate that those who might be left behind should Harbaugh depart wouldn’t be able to continue the success this team has seen would be a fallacy of logic.

Photo: Huffington Post