What goes around comes around. If you believe in karma then you can understand the recent turmoil that the San Francisco 49ers now find themselves facing.

Just a couple years ago, the San Francisco 49ers, under coach Jim Harbaugh, were dominating the NFC. The iconic NFL franchise was enjoying its greatest run since the late 80’s and early 90’s, reaching three consecutive NFC championship games and coming up just sort of winning the 2013 Super Bowl. Then Jim Harbaugh was fired after last season due management disagreement.

Think what you want about Jim Harbaugh and his personality, but his record does not lie. If Jim Harbaugh was still coach of the San Francisco 49ers, this team wouldn’t be winning only half of it’s starting games and have several years of rebuilding directly in the face. Football is a sport that’s not like any other. If you want to win, it starts at the top with having a great coach. Although new coach Jim Tomsula has done a great job with the 49ers defense over the past eight seasons, he’s no Harbaugh. Harbaugh demanded respect from his players with his winning ways and on-field presence. Now, without him, players are fleeing left and right.

We have heard plenty of rumors over the last few days, but we are finally starting to see some actual resolution, and not just speculation. The San Francisco 49ers are likely to lose quite a few players to free agency. Frank Gore, the team’s franchise running back for a decade, left to go join the Indianapolis Colts. Three-time Pro Bowl offensive line star Mike Iupati signed with division rival, the Arizona Cardinals. And several other key starters are expected to be leaving in free agency in the next few weeks. Additionally, five-time first-team All-Pro Patrick Willis retired at 30, an age which made him one of the youngest players on the Niners’ aging defense. Even Colin Kaepernick was allegedly tossed around in trade talks and the way these rumors were denied almost guaranteed their truth.

On the bright side, the team has signed free agent DT Darnell Dockett, WR Jerome Simpson, and WR Torrey Smith. But it is very clear: The San Francisco 49ers are a team on a free fall, and it’s all because Jim Harbaugh and management couldn’t get along.