With Trent Baalke on board as the 49ers’ GM, the belief is that Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh is then the next step as head coach.

NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi, reported to have interviewed for the 49ers’ GM position, said the job is going to in-house candidate Trent Baalke.

Is what has taken place this season a perfect storm of problems, or is someone to blame in San Francisco?

Heading into what many consider to be a make-or-break season, 49ers QB Alex Smith said the challenges of his first five seasons have helped him gain perspective.

49ers owner Jed York said Wednesday the team was to blame for not previously surrounding QB Alex Smith with better talent.

The 49ers’ attempts to have a new stadium constructed in Santa Clara received a major boost Wednesday night when a planning commission recommended, 7-0, that the City Council certify the team’s Environmental Impact Report. Should the City Council do that, which could happen as soon as next month, then the final step would be to hold a public vote on the issue, which could come next year, possibly in June.

Updating this story from earlier today, negotiations between Michael Crabtree’s agent, Eugene Parker, and the 49ers are continuing.

NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora has confirmed a Santa Rosa Press Democrat report that 49ers president Jed York has offered to hold a face-to-face meeting with holdout Michael Crabtree.