Report: 49ers expected to fire Tomsula, retain GM Baalke

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The 49ers are expected to fire head coach Jim Tomsula after one season, but retain general manager Trent Baalke, Pro Football Talk reported Sunday, citing a league source.

That would make Tomsula just the eighth coach fired after one season since 2000.

The 49ers (4-11) finish the season on Sunday against the St. Louis Rams at Levi’s Stadium in the first year after the “mutual parting” with coach Jim Harbaugh, who led the 49ers to three trips to the NFC Championship game in his first three seasons.

Shortly after the 49ers finished with an 8-8 record last season, losing four of their final five games, CEO Jed York announced the parting with Harbaugh, who moved on to Michigan, his alma mater. The 49ers promoted Tomsula from defensive line coach, where he served on the team's staff the previous eight seasons.

While the 49ers struggled this season with a depleted roster, Harbaugh thrived at Michigan. The Wolverines went 10-3 in Harbaugh’s first season, including a resounding 41-7 victory over Florida in the Citrus Bowl.

York has not spoken public about Tomsula or the state of the football team this season. The embattled team executive said he would address all football topics after the 49ers have played their final game.

[MAIOCCO: Tomsula: 'I’m going to coach until somebody tells me I’m not']

Tomsula’s job appeared safe as recently as Dec. 6 when the 49ers beat the Chicago Bears in overtime, and York tweeted out, “Very fun win.” But the good feelings were quickly erased and the organization began seriously re-thinking their stance on the coaching staff with an uninspired performance the following week in a 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The 49ers enter the season finale on a three-game losing streak.

Prior to this year, the seven coaches since 2000 who were fired after one season: Marty Schottenheimer (Washington, 2001), Art Shell (Oakland, 2006), Cam Cameron (Miami, 2007), Jim Mora (Seattle, 2009), Hue Jackson (Oakland, 2011), Mike Mularkey (Jacksonville, 2012), and Rob Chudzinski (Cleveland, 2013). Al Groh resigned from his job with the New York Jets after one season (2000) to take over as head coach of Virginia, his alma mater.

In 49ers history, only four coaches have lasted one or fewer seasons: Red Strader (1955), Monte Clark (1976), Ken Meyer (1977) and Pete McCulley (1978).

 

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