You just knew it had to be too good to be true. A couple hours after we heard Jason La Canfora add more context to his report about Jed York potentially being removed from his current role, Pro Football Talk has shot down the rumors entirely.
According to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, none of those things will be happening. Jed York won’t be leaving the football operation, his parents (Denise DeBartolo York and Dr. John York) won’t be replacing him, and the team won’t be hiring Mike Shanahan in any capacity.
Not may be or could be or possibly will be or any of the other weasel words that will litter so many reports of comings and goings over the next few weeks. Will not be, period.
PFT’s source thinks that Mike Shanahan was behind the rumors in an effort to get his name back in the mix. La Canfora’s report mentioned Shanahan as a potential option, but also left open the door for other options. It certainly would not surprise me to learn that Shanahan was behind this.
My guess is that either Paraag Marathe or Jed York, or at least one of their minions got in touch with PFT to shut down the rumor before it could get further legs. Or maybe Trent Baalke is playing his own political games as he realizes his job is in jeopardy. Someone is trying to take control of the narrative. Everybody has a reason to get their leaks out there, and nobody is going to out-leak the powers that be in the 49ers front office. Thankfully there are only three games remaining before we get some kind of clarity on this dumpster fire of a situation.