San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly have more than a few things in common other than their love of the game. The pair of "football guys" have had very strained relationships with their professional counterparts, Chip Kelly with his former GM Howie Roseman and Trent Baalke with his former HC Jim Harbaugh. So when a report surfaced that there was already tension between the two, it didn’t really come as a surprise.
Former Eagles player and NFL analyst Brian Baldinger reported just last week that things were starting to heat up between the two when he was a guest on local Philadelphia radio station 97.5 The Fanatic. No one is sure if the source was someone inside the Eagles facility, where they have been quick to fire shots over the bow of their former head coach.
When asked about this report Baalke vehemently denied that there was any conflict.
I can tell you emphatically that that is total B.S. That’s all I can say. We’ve had absolutely a wonderful start to this relationship and there’s really nothing else to say. He’s coaching ball and we’re up there in the draft room going to work. It couldn’t be better. So where Baldy got that from, what his angle was, it’s ridiculous, and you can quote me on that.
According to Baalke the honeymoon phase continues in Santa Clara.