San Francisco 49ers' Veteran Mass Exodus Paves Way for New Leadership

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — They're fleeing.

The San Francisco 49ers' leaders are leaving the team en masse. Watch them go. Say goodbye.

Goodbye, Frank. Goodbye, Patrick. Goodbye, Justin.

Those three were the 49ers' lifeblood, and they can't leave the team fast enough.

Frank Gore is the Colts' lifeblood now. He signed a three-year, $12-million contract with Indianapolis on March 10, per Adam Schefter.

The Colts introduced Gore to their fans with a video interview on their website Wednesday morning. Gore was wearing a blue Colts sweatshirt, and he was bursting with pride.

Kevin Bowen of Colts.com conducted the interview. "How tough of a process was this for you to make a decision after all those years in San Francisco," Bowen asked, "and what ultimately made you pick the Colts?"

Gore bowed his head to show the 49ers respect. "It was very tough," he said. Then he shrugged and lifted his head. "I've been in San Fran for 10 years. They're a great organization. But I know at this point of my career, I wanted to be with a team who's got a shot at the trophy."

Translation: The 49ers don't have a shot to at the trophy.

Gore wrote off the 49ers.

The Niners aren't worth his time and effort. He turns 32 in May. He doesn't want to waste the last few seasons of his career playing for a hopeless team. He wants a chance to play with Andrew Luck. He wants a chance to win a Super Bowl.

Hello, Indy.

Patrick Willis and Justin Smith don't have the opportunity to do what Gore's doing—play for another team. Willis and Smith are under contract with the 49ers, so they simply retired.

Smith hasn't officially retired, but he will announce his final decision next week, per The Sacramento Bee. Chances that he will play out the final season of his deal are slim.

Willis announced his retirement on Tuesday. He didn't write off the Niners—he was more diplomatic than that. Willis said his feet are failing him and he has too much pride to play like an old man.

He also said this, via Niners Nation: "I was talking to one of my homeboys yesterday and he was like, ‘P, you've been talking about your feet since college,' and I'm like, ‘I know, that's what I'm saying.'"

Willis played through foot pain his entire career. He doesn't want to play through it anymore.

What would he gain from playing through one more season of pain for the 49ers? Minicamp, OTAs, training camp, 16 regular-season games, the risk of injuries and concussions, all for what? Not for a chance to win the Super Bowl. The 49ers missed their chance.

Willis could make more money if he were to stick around—about $19 million to be exact, according to Spotrac. That's how much he has left on his deal. But he already has made more than $42 million, and $42 million goes a long way in Willis' home state of Tennessee—or any state. He can already live like an emperor if he wants to. What's another $19 million to him?

Smith has about $6.5 million left on his contract, per Spotrac, but he has earned more than $78 million—he's as good as gone. All the 49ers' leaders are gone—Gore, Willis, and Smith.

In their place exists a void. Other 49ers must fill it. Which 49ers are the new leaders? Are there new leaders?

Anquan Boldin is a leader. He became a leader on the team as soon as the 49ers traded for him. He's been a leader his whole career. He was born to lead.

Boldin spoke to Bay Area reporters on a conference call Wednesday afternoon. He's the new voice of the locker room. I asked him: Who are the leaders now that Willis and Gore are gone?

"We still have leaders in the locker room," Boldin said. "Myself. Look at a guy like [NaVorro] Bowman, look at a guy like Kap [Colin Kaepernick]. There are several leaders in the locker room. I don't think leadership will be a problem in this coming season."

Fifteen minutes after Boldin's conference call, Torrey Smith came to the 49ers media room. It was a small, intimate group—a few reporters and Smith. I asked him the same question that I had asked Boldin.

Who are the leaders on this team?

"I'm outside looking in," said Smith. "I know Vernon [Davis] very well. I obviously know what type of leader Anquan is. And Kaepernick—you can't look past the quarterback. He works his tail off. I'm sure he leads by example."

That's two votes for Boldin, one vote for Bowman, one vote for Davis and two votes for Kaepernick.

Bowman was a leader before he tore his left ACL and MCL in January 2014, but he has to prove that he can still play. No player can lead from the bench.

Davis is not a leader. Players won't follow someone who underperforms. Oh, let's be honest. Players won't follow someone who stinks, and Davis stunk last season as a blocker and a receiver—the total package.

Kaepernick isn't a leader, either. He is the guy who gets into shouting matches with opposing players during games. He is the guy who berates fans on Twitter. Kaepernick needs to be led.

I count two established leaders on the 49ers—Boldin and left tackle Joe Staley. Those two are excellent, but they can't fill the leadership void by themselves.

Shortly after Torrey Smith left the media room, in walked general manager Trent Baalke.

Trent, who are the leaders on your team?

"Who are the leaders right now?" he repeated. "Joe Staley and Kap and Anquan Boldin on offense. I don't want to miss anybody. Defensively, NaVorro. Justin is still on this team. You've got Glenn Dorsey on the D-line. Ian Williams. Antoine Bethea. There are leaders on this football team. They're just not the keynote names that you've become accustomed to here. There is plenty of leadership.

"When leaders move on, others step up."

His final sentence had the ring of truth. Or was it the ring of desperate hope?

All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

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