Jed York’s lack of involvement may show growth as an owner
Jed York didn't know about the Christian Kirk signing. For 49ers fans who remember 2014-2016, that's the point.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 02: Jed York, Principal Owner & CEO, San Francisco 49ers, speaks onstage during "Future Proofing the Sports Economy: Inside the Owner’s Suite" panel at day 2 of the 2025 HOPE Global Forum at Signia by Hilton Atlanta on December 02, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images) | Getty Images The San Francisco 49ers’ owner has changed quite a bit since hiring Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. During the NFL Annual League Meeting , York made time for the media and mentioned having seen an interview between NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“Why the hell is he [Shanahan] talking about Christian Kirk? ” York said. “I mean, is this tampering?
I had no idea that we signed Christian Kirk. ” That’s right, Jed York, the man who writes the paychecks for Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch, never got the memo that those two signed the wide receiver in free agency. York went on to explain the trust he had in the 49ers’ front office with these decisions.
“I can’t spend 100 percent of my time on the 49ers,” York said, listing other endeavors such as the Leeds United Football Club that he is involved with. This is a much different Jed York than the 2014-2016 era. The issue with York during the Jim Harbaugh years was his meddling .