National Football League

49ers CEO tweets apology to fans ... are Harbaugh's days numbered?

Published Nov. 28, 2014 12:55 a.m. ET

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The longest-running soap opera in the NFL took another turn on Thursday night, and in the process, the fate of one NFL head coach may be less of a cliffhanger than anyone realized.

49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh's future beyond this season has been the source of speculation dating back to the offseason. From returning to his alma mater to coach Michigan to taking over the Atlanta Falcons, and numerous points in between, it seems more Harbaugh headlines are devoted to teams Harbaugh doesn't coach than the one he does. And it doesn't appear that's going to change any time soon.

Shortly after the defending-champion Seahawks put the 49ers' playoff hopes in peril with a 19-3 pounding at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., 49ers CEO Jed York tweeted this out:

Thank you #49ersfaithful for coming out strong tonight. This performance wasn't acceptable. I apologize for that
— Jed York (@JedYork) November 28, 2014

When asked about the tweet at a postgame news conference, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick did not say much beyond agreeing that the way the 49ers played on Thursday was unacceptable. And Kaepernick was certainly emblematic of the problems on the Thanksgiving finale. He was 16 of 29 for 121 yards and two interceptions without a touchdown as San Francisco was outgained by more than 200 yards (379-164).

San Jose Mercury News columnist Tim Kawakami reported on the scene from inside the 49ers' locker room after the game.

FOX NFL Insider Mike Garafolo added insight to the Harbaugh-49ers situation on the radio earlier in the week, saying that while much of the focus has been on the coach's supposed sour relationship with GM Trent Baalke and the front office, the offense's lack of production this season is management's biggest concern with the team, and a big factor on Harbaugh's future with the team.

That @JedYork tweet speaks volumes. Season's not over yet by any stretch but not a happy Thanksgiving for him.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 28, 2014

The 49ers have advanced to the NFL Championship Game in each of Harbaugh's first three seasons, advancing to Super Bowl XLVII in his second season before losing to the Ravens 34-31. But Thursday night's loss dropped the 49ers to 7-5, in third place in the NFC West and three games behind the Cardinals in the division. What's more, the 49ers are now a game behind Dallas, Detroit and Seattle in the wild-card race.