SANTA CLARA – CEO Jed York met with the 49ers players on Monday morning to set forth his plan for the future of the organization.
York fired general manager Trent Baalke on Friday. After the 49ers' season finale against the Seattle Seahawks, York met with coach Chip Kelly and fired him, too.
The 49ers tied a franchise low win total with a 2-14 record, which included a franchise-worst 13 game losing streak.
Now, the 49ers will look for a new general manager and a new coach – their fourth different coach in four years following Jim Harbaugh, Jim Tomsula and Kelly.
Nobody on the team asked any questions after York spoke about putting in place a winning culture with a coach-general manager combination that will work well together. The players said they liked what they heard from the team's top executive.
"I'm on board with that," 49ers offensive lineman Zane Beadles. "I want to see a championship culture, too – somewhere where expectations are high and people are held to high expectations and we have fun doing it. That's what this business is all about. At the end of the day, it's about winning ballgames and that's what needs to happen.
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"I agree with building a winning culture. That's a key thing and it's not something that's easy to do. It's something that takes time and it needs to happen. We'll see how things go as the offseason unfolds."
Wide receiver Torrey Smith, who is two years into a five-year, $40 million contract said he does not doubt York's sincerity but also understands the skepticism.
"I know Jed wants to get it right," Smith said. "I think he's going to continue to take a lot of heat because there've been changes a few years in a row. You know how much this franchise means to him and how he wants to be successful. I don't think there's any owner out here who doesn't want to be successful. He's committed to starting completely over and let there be a growth period.
"I'm confident in him. I think it's easy to not be (confident) because of the past few years. But changes happen all the time in any business. And this is a business. I think as long as he's committed to it and gets the right people in, I think it's a place, organizational wise, as a player it has everything you want."
Smith said he thought the 49ers are attractive because of the facilities, the new stadium, the diversity in the area and the weather. Although, he said the cost of living is an issue.
Wide receiver Jeremy Kerley said he wants to remain with the organization. He is set to be a free agent.
"One thing I take from it, they want to build a winning environment here," Kerley said. "I respect everything that happened."
Said defensive lineman Quinton Dial, "We need to be led in the right direction from top down. We have the talent. We just have to get the right coaches in and get the job done."
