Why was 49ers owner Jed York among the last to learn of Christian Kirk signing?

PHOENIX – A member of the San Francisco 49ers was on a flight Sunday when he watched a video of head coach Kyle Shanahan discussing the recent signing of Christian Kirk, a wide receiver who has had four 50-catch seasons since 2019.

His reaction to the signing that had been reported 13 days earlier: We signed Christian Kirk?

You might be surprised to read this: The surprised guy was Jed York, the guy who owns the team.

“I’m like, ‘Why the hell is (Shanahan) talking about Christian Kirk? ‘” York said. “I’m like, ‘Is this tampering? ‘ I had no idea that we signed Christian Kirk.'”

When York was later told that fans might be stunned to learn he was among the last to know about Kirk’s addition, he said he probably should have been aware of the move. But he did so unapologetically. He said it reflected his trust in general manager John Lynch and Shanahan, each of whom has presided over a nine-season run that’s included five 10-win seasons, four NFC Championship Game appearances and two trips to the Super Bowl.

That is, York said, he doesn’t need to be consulted if Lynch and Shanahan want to sign a player to a one-year, $3 million deal.

“I think it’s more how it’s evolved with this group of people, right?” York said. “I have immense trust and faith in those guys. And when you look at what we signed Christian for, right, it’s not a huge number. If we’re going to go spend a massive amount of money in free agency, obviously we’re going to talk about that.

“I had a good sense of what we were looking at in free agency … So you have to make sure that I don’t hamstring those guys: ‘Well, you need to call me and make sure that I approve …’ I’ve already approved what the budget is. I pay you guys enough money. Go do your job and go do it well. And I trust you to do it well.”

Of course, it also reflects how York’s ownership style has changed after he was previously criticized for his hands-on approach and failure to stay in the shadows.

In 2010, after an 0-5 start, York made headlines by incorrectly predicting the 49ers would make the playoffs. In 2014, he took to social media to apologize to fans moments after a home loss on Thanksgiving to the Seahawks, evidence of his frayed relationship with head coach Jim Harbaugh.

In 2015, he likened his hiring of head coach Jim Tomsula to the Warriors‘ hiring of Steve Kerr before firing Tomsula about five months later. After the 2016 season, he fired Chip Kelly, making the 49ers the first franchise in nearly 40 years to fire head coaches in back-to-back seasons after one-year stints.

York famously said “you don’t fire owners” and the 49ers only “raise Super Bowl banners” and he punched a wall after quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL in 2018.

He was an owner who was seemingly living and dying with his team’s fortunes. Now, however, the 49ers aren’t York’s only team.

York and 49ers executive Paraag Marathe lead 49ers Enterprises, which owns two European professional soccer clubs, Leeds United (England), and Rangers F.C. (Scotland). York is also the CEO of his family’s company, the DeBartolo Corporation.

On Monday, York acknowledged he’s no longer watching video of draft prospects as he once did with former GM Scot McCloughan.

“We do a lot of other things,” York said. “Obviously, we’re involved with Leeds. We’re involved with Rangers. We’re involved with multiple clubs and multiple different things around the world. I can’t spend 100% of my time on the 49ers. But what I try to do is make sure that the culture is what I want it to be at the San Francisco 49ers. And then you have the right people that can execute on that vision.”

York’s lessened involvement made it unclear Monday if he was aware of the possible impact on the team’s culture and finances if the 49ers keep Brandon Aiyuk in 2026. The All-Pro wide receiver, who hasn’t played since October 2024 due to a complex knee injury, was placed on the reserve/left the team list in December and is due a $24.9 million option bonus if he’s on the team on Sept. 1.

Shanahan and Lynch have indicated Aiyuk has played his final game with the franchise, but York said of Aiyuk: “I would like to see him play for us.”

Say this: York can no longer be criticized for trying to mimic his uncle, combustible Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo, who was heavily involved throughout a 23-year tenure which the dynastic 49ers became the first team to win five Super Bowls.

DeBartolo, 79, created a few headlines in January when he was asked about the 49ers’ title drought: How frustrated would he be if he was the owner of a team that had gone 31 seasons without a Super Bowl?

Said DeBartolo: “I wouldn’t.”

York said he’s been asked if he took DeBartolo’s response as a slight.

“He didn’t think about me in any way, shape or form when he answered that question,” York said. “That’s just who he is, and if you know him you just know the will that he has to win. Obviously, the NFL was a little bit of a different place when he was running the San Francisco 49ers. But he would always find a way to make sure that he was successful and that he was competing, always.”

As far as York’s views on competing, he acknowledged in 2024 that they’ve changed since he “literally thought my life was about to end” when the 49ers sullied their 5-0 Super Bowl record by losing to Ravens in February 2013.

Two years ago, when he spoke at the NFL owners’ meetings less than two months after the 49ers lost to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII, York explained he’d backed off his Super-Bowl-or-bust mantra.

“I just think you can’t be ashamed of a successful season,” York said. “Our goal is always going to be to win Super Bowls. … What I’ve learned in my time as CEO, it’s not a complete failure to not win.”

On Monday, York was asked about the 31-season title drought. He said there’s “always frustration” before referencing a book he recently gave his 13-year-old son, Jaxon. The book, “The Score Takes Care of Itself,” details the leadership principles of Bill Walsh.

“I think it’s just such a wonderful book about how you prepare,” York said. “The art of it is how you prepare. What you do. And the score will take care of itself. And we’ve been around the hoop enough. We haven’t gotten it in, but we’re going to get it in. And I know the way that we prepare, we’re going to win.”

This article originally published at Why was 49ers owner Jed York among the last to learn of Christian Kirk signing?.

Why was 49ers owner Jed York among the last to learn of Christian Kirk signing?

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