49ers GM Trent Baalke Confirms He’s Been Fired

49ers GM Trent Baalke confirmed during a pregame interview with KNBR that he, in fact, been fired by the team as reported last night.

Despite being let go, Baalke still plans to attend the team’s season finale against the Seahawks.

“It was the right thing to do. This is a class organization,” Baalke said, via KNBR.com. “You know, I’ve been here since 2005 and I have a lot of respect for the organization as a whole, and the ownership, the fan base. It’s difficult, but it’s the right thing to do.”

Baalke added that he wasn’t surprised that the team elected to part ways and move in a new direction.

“It didn’t surprise me,” Baalke said. “We’ve done some awful good things. Some very successful seasons. Unfortunately regret we weren’t able to bring a championship to the Bay Area, which they so deserve. I think The Faithful has been great. Wish this organization nothing but the best moving forward. I do see a bright future for them.”

Baalke also admitted that it wouldn’t be the worst thing for the franchise to have a complete re-set of the team’s culture.

“I’m a big fan,” Baalke said. “Sometimes you need to re-set the culture. When you have a winning culture, which we did in 2011, 12, 13 and 14, a lot of good football players. A lot of memorable games we went through together. Then you transition. At some point, those veteran guys move on. Blending in with younger guys, and sometimes it takes a little longer than you’d like. And this is probably one of those situations. But I do think there’s some very good young talent on this team. With a good offseason, the right re-set, I think good things are ahead for them.”

Baalke, 52, was promoted by the 49ers to general manager back in 2011. He was named Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers Association back in 2011 after the team won 13 games.

Since joining the 49ers back in 2010, the 49ers have a record of 57-31-1, which includes three playoff appearances and a conference title in 2012.