Longtime 49ers running back Frank Gore is on the verge of reaching free agency for the first time in his career, meaning this weekend’s game could be his last in San Francisco. However, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke isn’t necessarily expecting that to be the case, as he tells Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
“We sure hope not,” Baalke said. “He understands what he means to this organization. He would certainly like to be back, and we would certainly like to have him back. Now, whether we can make that a reality or not, time will tell.
“You have to look at the situation,” Baalke continued. “Frank is going to want to discuss his role, and what that role is going to be moving forward. What is the contract itself going to look like? We can both want each other’s company, but to make that happen, there are hurdles that are going to have to be crossed. He knows we are interested. We know he is interested. And we’re going to see if we can come together at some point.”
If Gore doesn’t return to the 49ers for the 2015 season, it seems likely that the club would turn to Carlos Hyde, on whom the Niners used a second-round pick earlier this year. Here’s more on the Niners:
- Baalke confirmed that the University of Michigan reached out to him to convey their interest in head coach Jim Harbaugh, as Cam Inman of the Mercury News writes. “I think the University of Michigan, in reaching out, did handle it correctly,” Baalke said on his weekly segment on 95.7 The Game. “As I look at it, guys, it’s very simple: He’s the head football coach of the San Francisco 49ers.”
- Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports says the 49ers will regret letting go of Harbaugh. The polarizing coach appears to be done in San Francisco, leaving him with a number of opportunities in the NFL and one notable opportunity at the NCAA level.
- Some sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Bill Williamson of ESPN.com) that they believe Harbaugh will either coach at the University of Michigan or with the Raiders in 2015.
Zach Links contributed to this post.