So, now what?

The 49ers got their guy in new head coach Jim Harbaugh, getting everyone off team president Jed York's back for the foreseeable future and cutting new general manager Trent Baalke some slack until at least the draft.

So, now what for the 49ers? Hire a staff, of course. Read More 'So, now what?' »

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Jan 08 at 09:16 AM

Harbaugh hired - News conference highlights

Here are the basics of the Jim Harbaugh news conference.

NERVOUS, SCARED, CONFIDENT?: Said he was comfortable and said he has unshakable confidence.

HOW MUCH FACTOR WAS MONEY: Said he didn't want to talk about money. Said the factor in being with the 49ers was that York and Baalke wanted him and that he's excited about that.

INFLUENCE OF BEING A QB ON HIRE: Baalke said he had the chance to go to Stanford practices and games and he admired the way Harbaugh related to his quarterbacks.

WHAT CHANCES BAALKE MAKE: Said he will hire a personnel guy and that there will be some changes in the scouting department.

WHAT HE THOUGHT OF LUCK DECISION: Told Luck to do the best for himself and his family. Supported his decision. Said he has taken a lot from him. "From his mouth has come some extraordinary things."

BAALKE'S TAKE ON MEETING: Said he was looking for the fit. Like the enthusiasm. Said he liked the passion. More than what he said, but how he came across. "He's a ball coach" Baalke said.

DETAILS OF THE MEETING WITH 49ers: Said Baalke was the driving force of the meeting. Said Jed was there to talk about his vision. Said they were cool cucumbers.

Said he talked to Andrew Luck and the Stanford players through text. Said he was going to be right down the road.

ON WHAT STANFORD DID TO WOO HIM: Reiterated that he just wanted the NFL shot.

ON PLAYING PETE CARROLL: Said he was just excited about tonight's work.

CHARACTERISTICS HE LOOKS FOR IN A QB: Accuracy, intelligence, decision-making. He said he could go on and on. Said it was more the most important position on the field and the most difficult position in sports.

QUARTERBACK QUESTION: Said he would talk to current players on the team first. Then check out the avenues to upgrade the position.

QUESTION ASKED ABOUT MOVING TO SANTA CLARA: "I don't know what you are talking about." Answered questions in football terms.

WHAT HE LEARNED THE LAST FEW DAYS: "If it's on the internet, it's true." His first joke. Said he did a lot of homework and made a lot of phone calls. After that, he knew the 49ers were the choice.

HOW HE FEELS ABOUT COACHING AGAINST HIS BROTHER NEXT YEAR: He has talked to John about it. Said John told him the game could be the Thursday kickoff game for the league.

JUMPING TO NFL DURING NO LABOR AGREEMENT: "We'll win at what we can win at each day." He said any obstacles he will overcome.

THE HIRING PROCESS: Baalke said he encouraged Harbaugh to take his time to make his decision.

WALSH INFLUENCE: Has a picture of him on his computer screen. Met him as a player and at Stanford. Can't put JH and Bill Walsh in the same sentence, Harbaugh said.

ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN GM AND COACH: The final say on roster will be with Baalke.

CAN HE OVERCOME COLLEGE COACH STIGMA: "I hope to be under estimated." - Harbaugh. Baalke said he had no doubt that Harbaugh would succeed.

WHEN HE MADE THE DECISION: Through his six-hour meeting with York and Baalke.

WEST COAST OFFENSE: "We will be installing the West Coast offense in San Francisco, the birthplace of the West Coast offense." - Harbaugh.

WHAT WERE LAST TWO DAYS LIKE: Hearing the vision from York and Baalke swayed him he said. "Losing is not an option."

COACHING STAFF, WHO WILL TAKE FROM STANFORD: Won't mention names until they sign contracts. Said will meld the two staffs, 49ers and Stanford.

WHY LEAVE STANFORD NOW: Perfect opportunity, at Stanford said they were signature years. Said he got married there and had two children. "The chance to compete at the highest level was overwhelming to me."

Harbaugh said his first task will be to call and meet with players.

Baalke said he has known Harbaugh for seven years. Met him at a college all-star game. He liked his energy.

Music accompanied the intro to Jed York and GM Trent Baalke to start the Harbaugh news conference.

-The 49ers set up a conference call with Jim Harbaugh's brother John at 4:45. John is the head coach of the Ravens.

-Ray Ratto said Harbaugh won some concessions on power over the roster and coaches. We'll see what they say in the press conference.

-Stanford and Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming turned out to be out right. He said on KNBR that he wanted to be in the NFL. Somehow, Flemming knew more than Harbaugh's brother John, who said he was going back to Stanford.

-Harbaugh apparently hired two agents, one to handle the pro side, David Dunn, and another Jack Bechta, on the college side, according to CSNBA's Mindi Bach. Read More 'Harbaugh hired - News conference highlights' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 07 at 04:06 PM

Updated with links: Harbaugh to 49ers

Some useful links -- about the expected hiring, with a recap of the Harbaugh job-hunt circus and his time at Stanford. Plus, what's next at Stanford, in the wake of Harbaugh. And, a link to where CSNBA will stream video of the news conference.

Previously posted:

Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh is expected to agree to a five-year deal to become the 49ers' head coach, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting.

The 49ers haven't confirmed, but they are saying there is a press conference at 3:30 p.m. today.

As David White scrambles to the Jim Harbaugh news conference, Kevin Lynch will attempt to fill in the blanks. We'll also blog during and after the 49ers conference.

49ERS DESERVE CREDIT

The 49ers should be applauded for the patience and even their tactics in landing their top choice for head coach. When the Dolphins swooped in to offer $7 million or $8 million per, the 49ers refused to match that outlandish amount, despite President Jed York's insistence that money was no object. No first time NFL head coach without broad organizational powers should make the same as New England's Super Bowl-winning Bill Belichick (he makes $7.2 million a year).

However, stepping up to pay Harbaugh $25 million for five years for the man they wanted was absolutely reasonable.

-Ray Ratto said Harbaugh won some concessions on power over the roster and coaches. We'll see what they say in the press conference.

-Stanford and Giants broadcaster Dave Flemming turned out to be out right. He said on KNBR that he wanted to be in the NFL. Somehow, Flemming knew more than Harbaugh's brother John, who said he was going back to Stanford.

-Harbaugh apparently hired two agents, one to handle the pro side, David Dunn, and another Jack Bechta, on the college side, according to CSNBA's Mindi Bach.

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Jan 07 at 02:02 PM

Harbaugh play-by-play

If the 49ers are looking for stability in their next head coach, perhaps now is a good time to rethink this whole Jim Harbaugh thing.

To review the past 24 hours (as of 9:45 p.m., which means this will be wildly outdated come dawn) as reported by everyone from ESPN to NFL Network, Fox Sports, Bay Area News Group, Sacramento Bee, CSNBA and yours truly: Read More 'Harbaugh play-by-play' »

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Jan 06 at 09:54 PM

Harbaugh, but at what price?

Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh is the hottest candidate of the year. I get it.

But is he really worth getting paid more money than any NFL coach? That's where I don't get it.

College coaches who jump the shark to the NFL haven't exactly torn it up in the league. Coaches with far superior college resumes than Harbaugh have failed at it (and those who say he played quarterback so it's different, go see Steve Spurrier). Their history is so bad, NFL Films has a Top-10 list of worst coaches to make that move.

I get that 49ers president Jed York said money is no object, but I also think some objects aren't worth the money. Read More 'Harbaugh, but at what price?' »

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Jan 06 at 12:14 PM

Jim Harbaugh - Is money the issue?

Money? Really? According to the latest reports the 49ers might lose out on Jim Harbaugh because they are unwilling to meet the Dolphins contract numbers. Miami is reportedly offering $7 million per, the 49ers are at $4.5 million.

You often hear around the 49ers that the Yorks are willing to pay to make the team better, to get the team they want. Obviously, they want Harbaugh and if it's true they could lose out on him because of cash. That would be a bad sign and a PR disaster.

That also seems unbelievably short-sighted. Wouldn't the 49ers make the $2.5 million difference with season-ticket renewals, luxury-box sales, and corporate partnerships? To say nothing of the momentum Harbaugh could build for the new stadium?

Other factors are likely roiling behind the scenes. As the most sought-after coach in the nation, Harbaugh is likely going to want more than money. He's going to want control over his roster, his coaching staff, personnel, maybe even the draft. That would infringe on new general manager Trent Baalke's hard-won territory, and the ambitious Baalke probably doesn't want to give that up.

The 49ers gave their last two coaches, Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary, wide authority. When Nolan won the job, he had as much or more authority as anyone in the league. Nolan helped hire personnel man Scot McCloughan. According to Nolan, he had say in stadium matters and broad administrative powers. When the team kept losing, Nolan was stripped of his personnel "trigger", which was then handed to McCloughan. Nolan, who had never been a head coach before, didn't react well to the reduction of his power (who does?). He was eventually fired and McCloughan extinguished his own rising star with a personal issue.

Read More 'Jim Harbaugh - Is money the issue?' »

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 06 at 10:10 AM

Harbaugh interviewed

Several outlets are reporting that Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh met with the 49ers Wednesday afternoon. Also, on KNBR, Giants and Stanford radio broadcaster Dave Flemming said he believes Harbaugh wants to go to the NFL. Flemming said that's always been his goal. Harbaugh is also being courted by the Broncos.

Posted By: Kevin Lynch (Email) | Jan 05 at 05:29 PM

Jackson back for seconds

Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is interviewing for the 49ers' head coach position today, a league source said this morning (and first reported by Matt Maoicco, the best I can tell from Twitter's timeline).

Just think, if Mike Singletary had just hired Jackson in the first place, maybe Jackson wouldn't be interviewing for his job today.

Jackson interviewed for the 49ers' offensive coordinator in 2009, but Singletary went with Jimmy Raye instead. And be sure, Jackson wanted the job as a then-quarterbacks coach in Baltimore.

"It was a position I seriously did consider. It just didn't go right at the time," Jackson said before the 49ers and Raiders played in October. "Obviously they went in a different direction and I was back in Baltimore and and wished him well, and I'm here in Oakland."

"That was their call at the time. And that's OK. I feel I'm where I'm supposed to be now, here with the Raiders getting this organization where it needs to be."

The unanswerable question is, could Jackson have gotten the 49ers where they needed to be under Singletary's heavy hand? Read More 'Jackson back for seconds' »

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Jan 05 at 08:49 AM

Breaking: Baalke gets GM job

As expected, in-house candidate Trent Baalke was named the 49ers general manager today, according to a league source familiar with the just-made decision.

Baalke has been considered the front runner ever since team president Jed York announced he would hire a GM last week in St. Louis. Baalke spent the past nine months acting as a GM, but with the title of vice president of player personnel.

He assumes the post vacated by Scot McCloughan for undisclosed reasons in March. Baalke's primary challenger turned out to be former Raiders executive Michael Lombardi, who came with strong recommendations from Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Chiefs GM Scot Pioli, according to a source close to the search.

York decided to stick with someone he knew and was comfortable working with. Baalke has been in the organization for six years, rising from a western region scout to head of the personnel department.

Baalke's first chore: Hire a head coach. Read More 'Breaking: Baalke gets GM job' »

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Jan 04 at 06:00 PM

Updated: 49ers lining up coaches

The 49ers requested permission to interview Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, according to Greatness of the Raiders expert Adam Schefter at ESPN.

Update: Add Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell to the list, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.

Jackson deserves job interviews on merit, and not just to satisfy the Rooney Rule, given all he's done with an offense that was beyond pathetic in my four years' served in Oakland.

But he does satisfy the Rooney Rule, as does Fewell, which would allow the 49ers to proceed with their all-out push for Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

Oh wait -- but they don't have a GM, and didn't team president Jed York say the GM would be the one to find a coach? Read More 'Updated: 49ers lining up coaches' »

Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | Jan 04 at 08:01 AM