Jerry Rice Comments on Jim Harbaugh's Status with 49ers

Sitting at 4-4 at the season's midpoint, the San Francisco 49ers are far removed from the team that was one possession away from an NFC championship in January. Count Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice among those placing the blame on Jim Harbaugh—or, more specifically, the speculation surrounding the increasingly embattled coach.      

"With Jim Harbaugh, there’s a lot of questions out there right now," Rice told Sports Illustrated's Pro Football Now, claiming that he thinks Harbaugh will be "gone" after this season. "We don’t really know if he wants to come back and be the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers...Maybe that’s starting to wear and tear on the team and it’s taking its toll."

It's worth noting that Rice, despite his close ties to the 49ers, does not work for the organization and was giving his opinion. Rice played for the 49ers from 1985 to 2000, where he became arguably the greatest wideout in NFL history.

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

The 49ers under Harbaugh are in the midst of their most successful run since Rice's departure. Harbaugh, who took over for Mike Singletary in 2011 after rebuilding the programs at the University of San Diego and Stanford, boasts a 40-15-1 regular-season record in his three-plus seasons in San Francisco. The 49ers reached the NFC Championship Game in his first three years, including a Super Bowl loss to Baltimore in 2012.

But amid rumors of tension between Harbaugh and the front office behind the scenes, San Francisco's 2014 campaign has seemed doomed from the start. First, there was the reported near-trade in February that would have sent Harbaugh to the Cleveland Browns.

After those talks fizzled, numerous reports were leaked through back channels that indicated a highly successful but dysfunctional marriage between coach and management. Last month, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports opined Harbaugh would not be back with the 49ers in 2015 regardless of what happens this season. ESPN's Adam Schefter noted the strained relationship between Harbaugh and his players, specifying that distrust has existed since San Francisco's pursuit of Peyton Manning in 2012.

Rice said it'd be impossible for players not to be affected by the turmoil.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

"The team, they try to say, ‘Well, we’re not affected by it.’ But you are, because (the coach and GM) have to make very crucial decisions that are really going to benefit the team," Rice said. "There’s a lot going on with that organization right now and I think it’s starting to hurt the players down there in the locker room."

After a frustrating 13-10 loss to the Rams on Sunday at Levi's Stadium, the 49ers are afterthoughts in their own division. They would have to win out in order for Harbaugh to avoid setting his career high for regular-season losses. Meanwhile, the Cardinals and Seahawks sit comfortably atop the NFC West, while the 49ers remain stuck in the muck of the wild-card race.

Needless to say, Rice will be far from the last person weighing in on this subject.

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