Just a few years ago, after making three straight NFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance, the 49ers looked like they were going to be a perennial force to be reckoned with for years to come, led by real-life Madden create-a-player Colin Kaepernick.
However, since then, the Niners have failed to put up a winning record and have also fired, er, "parted ways with" three straight coaches in three consecutive seasons. Those coaches were Jim Harbaugh, Jim Tomsula and, most recently, Chip Kelly, who was fired on Sunday afternoon after a loss to the Seahawks. Worst yet, San Francisco bottomed out this season with a 2-14 mark that would have looked much worse if not for the 1-15 Browns.
As if that wasn't enough evidence to prove that the once-proud Niners have cratered into Cleveland-West after an incredibly short period of time, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that they're also on the hook for $69 million to the former coaches they recently sent to the unemployment line:
To which we say...nice. Oh, and also, that's a lot of money to pay for, essentially, nothing in return.
The future payouts include $7 million to Tomsula who coached the team for just one season in 2015, and $18 million to Kelly, who signed a four-year deal last January. Even sweeter for Kelly is that he is still set to make $6.5 million next year after being prematurely fired by the Eagles just two years into a five-season deal. Talk about failing up.
And just in case you're wondering who will be the next 49ers head coach to be hired, fired, and then paid for nothing, here's an early leader:
Hope you enjoyed that window while it was open Niners fans.
