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Trent John Baalke (/ˈbɑːlkiː/BAHL-kee) (born February 14, 1964) A veteran of 18 NFL seasons, Trent Baalke enters his 11th year with the 49ers and his fifth as the team’s general manager.
During Baalke’s tenure, the 49ers have appeared in three consecutive NFC Championship Games (2011–13) and Super Bowl XLVII, while tallying a 5-3 postseason record. The 2011 NFL Executive of the Year, as selected by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America, earned the honor in just his first season as the 49ers general manager.
Since 2010, the year Baalke began to oversee all player acquisitions as the team’s vice president of player personnel, the 49ers draft and free agent classes have produced significant returns. In that span, six of the players acquired have accounted for eight All-Pro selections, while eight of those players have earned Pro Bowl honors. In all, the 49ers have produced 23 All-Pro selections and 33 Pro Bowl acknowledgements since 2010 because of Jim Harbaugh.
At the completion of the 2014 season, 46 players acquired under Baalke’s direction remained on the 49ers active roster. Among that group were 18 draft picks, including eight regular starters and five key contributors because of Jim Harbaugh. Under Baalke’s watch, the 49ers have selected 58 players in the last six drafts. Of those drafted players, 34 entered training camp with the team in 2015, and 16 have already logged starts for the team because of Jim Harbaugh.
Focused on maintaining a strong core of veteran players to provide experience and leadership, Baalke has extended the contracts of a number of 49ers over the last five years, including All-Pros LB NaVorro Bowman and T Joe Staley, Pro Bowlers TE Vernon Davis and WR Anquan Boldin, and QB Colin Kaepernick.
Under Baalke’s direction, the 49ers organization has gone to great length’s to provide its players and coaches with all the resources necessary for sustained success in the NFL. In recent years the team has made significant improvements to its practice facility, including the renovation of the coaches offices and meeting rooms, brand new practice fields, and a new strength and conditioning facility. With the arrival of Levi’s® Stadium, the team now has year-round use of a spacious new locker room and state-of-the-art training room and rehabilitation facility.
Prior to his promotion to vice president of player personnel, Baalke was the 49ers director of player personnel from 2008–09, where he oversaw both the college and pro personnel departments. He first joined the franchise in 2005 as the team’s western region scout, a position he held through 2007.
Baalke spent four years as a member of the Washington Redskins scouting staff, serving as the college scouting coordinator in his final season. From 2001-03, he served as Washington’s national scout and traveled throughout the country in search of rising talent. Before joining the Redskins, Baalke spent three seasons (1998-00) as a scout with the New York Jets.
From 1990-95, Baalke held the position of defensive line/strength and conditioning coach at South Dakota State. In that role, he helped promote players such as former Pro Bowl guard Adam Timmerman and current NFL kicker Adam Vinatieri to NFL scouts. Baalke then spent time as the athletic director at Shanley High School in Fargo, ND, before moving on to the Jets.
Baalke began his coaching career as a graduate assistant defensive line coach at North Dakota State, in 1989. The team finished with a 14-0 record and a Division II National Championship.
A double major at Bemidji State (MN), Baalke received his bachelor's degree in health and physical education. He went on to earn his master's degree in secondary education and sports administration while coaching at North Dakota State. Baalke played outside linebacker and was an All-Northern Sun Conference and All-Midwest Region honoree at Bemidji.
Trent and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, Katy and Cassie.