San Francisco 49ers receiving backlash from NFL owners for successfully developing coaches and execs of color?

By Jason Burgos

·Updated: February 7, 2024

A new report claims that the San Francisco 49ers’ being rewarded for grooming and developing coaches and executives that other organizations end up hiring to prominent positions is upsetting some very petty NFL owners around the league.

Over the last five seasons, few teams have produced a better and more consistent product than the 49ers. Outside of a 6-10 result in 2020, the team has won 10 or more games (13 twice) and is going to their second Super Bowl in that time.

A key part of their success is not just skilled players but talented individuals throughout the organization. Yet, what the ‘9ers have been able to do that other organizations haven’t is find and develop many talented people of color. And due to current NFL guidelines, the franchise has actually been rewarded for that unique success.

Yet some bosses around the league seem to be jealous of that uncanny trait from the 49ers.

NFL owners whining about San Francisco 49ers being rewarded for developing coaches and GMs of color

Four years ago, the NFL created a rule designed to reward organizations that successfully developed minorities who landed head coach and general manager jobs with other organizations. Over the last few years, 49ers alum like Robert Saleh (New York Jets), Maritn Mayhew (Washington Commandes), Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins), Ran Carthon (Tennessee Titans), and DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans) have all been hired to prominent roles with other teams.

For that unique success, under the aforementioned rule, San Francisco has received two third-round compensatory picks. In a Tuesday in-depth piece on San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, ESPN Seth Wickersham revealed that some very petty NFL owners have allegedly complained to the league about the number of compensatory picks the 49ers have received for getting former staff hired to be head coaches and general managers elsewhere.

It’s especially silly because the rule was created and approved by the league’s 32 owners. It’s a bit odd to complain about something the unified group developed and has been impressively used by one of their members.