49ers’ York meets with Harbaugh

Associated Press

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York stopped by Jim Harbaugh’s office Monday morning, and the coach said the two had a “real good talk” about the direction of the franchise.

Harbaugh called the meeting a “typical” conversation, though nothing surrounding the 49ers coach seems to be typical these days. He said both expressed appreciation for the job they’re doing and the team is moving forward as usual in preparation for next Monday night’s game at St. Louis.

“Everybody in the organization is doing their job, everybody is working hard at the craft of helping us be the best we can possibly be as a football team, and that’s all you can ask of anybody,” Harbaugh said. “They’re doing their best, and nobody appreciates that like I do. I know that’s what Jed appreciates. We work at the pleasure of the York family and the San Francisco 49ers organization, and that’s our job — do the best we possibly can. And I see everybody doing that.”

The drama involving Harbaugh bubbled up again last week.

NFL commentators and former players Deion Sanders and Trent Dilfer were among those that said Harbaugh had lost the locker room and the trust of his players. Another report questioned whether Harbaugh would be back with the 49ers next season.

York finally broke his silence on the topic, taking to Twitter before San Francisco’s 22-17 win over Kansas City on Sunday to try to quiet the latest fuss about Harbaugh’s future. York posted: “Jim is my coach. We are trying to win a SB (Super Bowl), not a personality or popularity contest. Any more questions?”

Many players also publicly backed Harbaugh and dismissed discussion that there’s friction between the coach and the locker room. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s comments echoed loudest.

“I love Coach Harbaugh. I’d go to war with him any day of the week,” Kaepernick said. “He’s a competitor, he wants to win and he’s going to do anything to put this team in a position to win.”

Harbaugh is in the fourth season of a $25 million, five-year contract he signed in January 2011 when he left a successful stint at Stanford to become the 49ers coach.

York said last year he hoped to get a new deal done for Harbaugh during the offseason, but that didn’t happen. Instead, reports surfaced that the Cleveland Browns inquired about trading for Harbaugh.