January 8th, 2015 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
By Michael Andrews
It’s Official: Jim Harbaugh Out as Niners Coach
The worst kept secret is official – Jim Harbaugh is out as coach of the 49’ers. CEO Jed York confirmed the move after the Niners beat the Cardinals Sunday.
“Jim and I have come to the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interest to move in different directions,” York said.
Harbaugh confirmed the move as well. “It’s been the time of my life,” the now former coach said.
It was a successful tenure with the Niners, as Harbaugh led San Francisco to a 44-19-1 record in the regular season and a 5-3 in the postseason, including one trip to the Super Bowl, a loss to the Ravens.
Harbaugh is going to be the next head coach at Michigan, taking a reported four-year deal for $48 million. As for the Niners, no word on any possible candidates as to who will be the next man on the sidelines.
Colin Kaepernick Says He Will Play Better in 2015
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick said Tuesday he’s intent on improving his mechanics and all-around game in the offseason, Cam Inman of Bayareanewsgroup reports.
“It’s hard to break habits in-season,” Kaepernick said. “You don’t want to completely change something because it can throw off everything else you’re doing.”
Kaepernick may seek out a mechanics coach, saying “that’s still in the works.” It’s also something that Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Alex Smith and others have done in their offseasons.
“I change things every offseason — a little bit here, a little bit there — to make sure I’m staying on top of things I feel are my weaknesses,” said Kaepernick “I’ll do the same this offseason to make sure I’m better prepared for next offseason.”
49ers and Jim Harbaugh Reaching End of the Road
So it’s come to this. The relationship between Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers organization has apparently deteriorated to the point that it’s become a foregone conclusion that the coach will not return for the final year of his contract in 2015. How does a coach who has won 43 regular season games (and technically counting) in less than four years get the axe? A coach who has won five playoff games (and definitely not counting) in three years will be handed his walking papers. A coach who has amassed the fourth best winning percentage in the modern era of football will be without a job (unless traded) in the very near future. The fact that Harbaugh has produced such historically successful results yet is not going to coach the 49ers next season speaks to the level of disconnect there is between Harbaugh, the front office and the players on the field. Harbaugh’s offense has hit a wall in his fourth season and the almost daily drama that’s included in the Jim Harbaugh package has become too much for the team and the organization to handle. On the surface it seems insane, but it appears that Coach Harbaugh has finally worn out his welcome in San Francisco.
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49ers Terminate Contract with DE Ray McDonald
49ers general manager Trent Baalke addressed the media on Wednesday afternoon, and revealed that the team terminated its contract with defensive lineman Ray McDonald, Matt Maiocco of CSN Bayarea reports.
“We just want to inform everybody that after the recent allegations concerning Ray McDonald, we as an organization have notified him and his agent that he will be terminated, released immediately. Effective immediately,” Baalke announced.
“While this organization has a strong belief in due process and has demonstrated that over time, Ray has demonstrated a pattern of poor decision-making that has led to multiple distractions for this organization and this football team that really can no longer be tolerated.”
McDonald is being investigated for alleged sexual assault, the San Jose Police Department reported in a statement Wednesday morning.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is active and ongoing, according to SJPD.
Video: CBS NFL Week 15 Preview – 49ers at Seahawks
Pete Prisco and Pat Kirwan preview the NFL Week 15 matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
49ers at Seahawks NFL Week 15 Game Capsule
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (7-6) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-4)
SERIES
| 49ERS | SEAHAWKS | |
| SERIES LEADER | 16-15 | |
| STREAKS | 3 of past 4 | |
| COACHES VS. OPP. | Harbaugh: 4-4 | Carroll: 6-5 |
| LAST WEEK | L 24-13 at Raiders | W 24-14 at Eagles |
| LAST GAME | 11/27/14: Seahawks 19 at 49ers 3. Seattle QB Russell Wilson passes for 236 yards & TD. Seahawks defense holds 49ers to 164 total net yards & CB Richard Sherman has 2 INTs. | |
| LAST REG-SEA GAME AT SITE | 9/15/13: Seahawks 29, 49ers 3. Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch rushes for 98 yards & 2 TDs & adds 37 receiving yards & TD. Seahawks defense records 3 INTs. | |
| BROADCAST | FOX (1:25 PM PT): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews (Field reporter). SIRIUS: 140 (SF), 85 (Sea.). XM: 85 (Sea.). | |
STATS
| PASSING | Kaepernick: 248-409-2910-16-10-85.1 | Wilson: 236-372-2729-17-5-95.2 |
| RUSHING | Gore: 193-775-4.0-2 | Lynch: 235-1042 (3C)-4.4-9 (T1L) |
| RECEIVING | Boldin: 72-897-12.5-4 | Baldwin: 53-616-11.6-3 |
| OFFENSE | 319.4 | 367.1 |
| TAKE/GIVE | +3 | +9 (3C) |
| DEFENSE | 308.5 (3L) | 274.5 (1L) |
| SACKS | Brooks, Lynch, J. Smith: 5 | Bennett: 6 |
| INTs | Cox: 4 (T2C) | Sherman: 3 |
| PUNTING | Lee: 47.5 (2L) | Ryan: 44.2 |
| KICKING | Dawson: 94 (25/25 PAT; 23/28 FG) | Hauschka: 116 (2C) (32/32 PAT; 28/31 FG) |
NOTES
49ERS: QB COLIN KAEPERNICK has posted 100+ rating 16 times as starter (incl. playoffs) & 49ers are 15-1 (.938)…RB FRANK GORE has 2 highest single-game rushing performances in franchise history, both vs. Sea. (212 yards on 11/19/06 & 207 on 9/20/09)…WR ANQUAN BOLDIN has 897 rec. yards & needs 103 for 7th career 1,000-yard season. Had TD in NFC Champ. at Sea. WR MICHAEL CRABTREE is 2nd on team with 60 catches (Boldin, 72). Since 2009 (incl. playoffs), TE VERNON DAVIS ties for 3rd in NFL with 53 rec. TDs…Rookie LB CHRIS BORLAND has 91 tackles, 2 INTs, FR & sack in past 7. Named NFL Defensive Rookie of Month for Nov. LB ALDON SMITH has 6 sacks in past 6 meetings. Had 2 sacks in last game at Sea. Rookie LB AARON LYNCH has sack in 5 of past 7. DT JUSTIN SMITH has sack in 2 of past 3. CB PERRISH COX leads club with 14 PD…SEAHAWKS: Have won 6 of past 7. Have won 22 of past 24 at home (incl. playoffs)…QB RUSSELL WILSON is 3-0 at home vs. SF (incl. NFC Champ.) & has 103.9 rating. Has 37 TDs, 11 INTs & 102.2 rating in 24 home starts (incl. playoffs)…In past 7 vs. SF (incl. NFC Champ.), RB MARSHAWN LYNCH has 704 rush yards (100.6 per game) & 8 TDs (6 rush). In 4 career games vs. SF at Sea. (incl. NFC Champ.), has 425 rush yards (106.3 per game) & 7 TDs (5 rush, 2 rec.). Has TD in 7 of past 9 home games (incl. playoffs). Has 14 TDs (13 rush, 1 rec.) in those 9. Has 18 TDs in past 17 (14 rush, 4 rec.), incl. playoffs…WR DOUG BALDWIN had 6 catches for 106 yards in NFC Champ. Has 3 TDs in past 4 at home vs. SF. Had 5 catches for 97 yards & TD last week. WR JERMAINE KEARSE had 35-yard TD in NFC Champ…CB RICHARD SHERMAN has 2 INTs & 90-yard blocked FG return TD in past 2 regular-season meetings at home. Had 2 INTs in Week 13. Since entering in 2011, leads NFL with 23 INTs, most in 1st 4 seasons by active player. S KAM CHANCELLOR has 2 INTs, FF & FR in past 3 vs. SF at home (incl. NFC Champ.). S EARL THOMAS had INT in last regular-season home meeting.
