Last season, anti-Jed York banners flying over Levi's Stadium were just one of the numerous expressions of criticism shown by San Francisco 49ers fans. Those criticisms were likely a big reason why head coach Jim Tomsula was fired at the end of the season.
Now the Niner Faithful have a new target, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. A GoFundMe campaign to raise money to purchase a "Fire GM Trent Baalke" banner has been fully funded. It took less than a day to reach the $1,076 goal which covers the cost to have the banner fly over Levi's Stadium prior to the 49ers' game against the New Orleans Saints on November 6. The hashtag "#FireTrent" will be at the end of the banner. Conor McGuire, Graham Grealish, and Mark Scannell are responsible for both campaigns.
As of this posting, the campaign, which is only 22 hours old, has raised over $2,000. That is nearly twice the amount that was needed.
News of the banner was first reported by beat writer Ryan Sakamoto of Niner Fans. Sakamoto was able to talk to McGuire about the latest effort. "McGuire told me that the York banner last year was more of making a statement rather than actually believing Jed would step down," Sakamoto wrote. "Baalke, however, is a different story, as he's on the hot seat and the seat gets hotter with every loss."
Banner Flyover for #49ers GM Trent Baalke on Nov. 6 (Saints Game) will have at tail-end #FireTrent. #49ersBeastWriter
— Ryan Sakamoto (@SakamotoRyan) October 25, 2016
The GoFundMe page says the following about the campaign:
The 2016 season has already spiraled out of control. The 49ers are currently in the basement of the NFC with a 1-6 record. After a demoralizing week 7 loss to Tampa Bay this team is showing no signs of improving. The level of ineptitude that has been on full display every Sunday thus far can only be rectified with a total reexamination of the organizations interior. That reexamination needs to start at the top with the teams' general manager Trent Baalke. Trent has been provided ample opportunities to establish himself as a capable NFL GM. He has failed and it is time for him to go.
"I hear the criticism, loudly," team CEO Jed York said following last season and the firing of Tomsula. "Whether that's talking to fans directly, whether that's social media or from planes flying over my head."
Update:
Having raised over two times the amount of money needed, Graham Grealish has ended the campaign. The final tally is $2,277. Grealish has been asked what the group plans to do with the extra money raised. "We are going to use that money to fly a second banner during a separate home game this season," he wrote. "We need to keep the pressure on Jed and Trent."