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SANTA CLARA – General manager Trent Baalke said that he spoke to 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday about getting the roster in the best shape to play Saturday against the San Diego Chargers.
Baalke, making his weekly appearance on the Damon Bruce Show on 95.7 The Game, said any decision on Harbaugh's future with the organization will be made after the season. The 49ers have games remaining against San Diego and Arizona.
The 49ers (7-7) were eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday with a 17-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It is the first time in Harbaugh's tenure that the 49ers have not qualified for the postseason.
Harbaugh is in the fourth year of a five-year, $25 million contract he signed in 2011. In late July, CEO Jed York and Harbaugh tabled contract talks until the end of the season. There is rampant speculation that York and Baalke will not retain Harbaugh as coach beyond this season.
[RELATED: Harbaugh looking forward to talking to York, Baalke]
“When the season ends, decisions are going to be made,” Baalke said. “And that’s when that conversation is going to take place. Jim and I sat here this morning and we basically talked about just that, and we talked about what we needed to do from a roster standpoint to get ready to play Saturday.
“And that’s really the focus. The focus is on getting ourselves prepared to win a football game. And although there may not be as much at stake, and some people wonder why you’re putting that much effort into it, (it’s) because we’re professionals and we’re very prideful in what we do. And we want to go out and win a football game. And the only way you can do that is get complete focus on it.”
When Bruce pressed Baalke on the subject, Baalke declined to specifically address Harbaugh's status within the organization.
“I know you want to take this to the next level and what’s going to happen at the end of the season, and I’m trying to tell you in a very nice way and focused way, that our focus is on one thing: Getting ready for San Diego. Period,” Baalke said.
