But that proved to be the unexpected end to a strange and disappointing, with back-up safety Dahl's pick ensuring a Gatorade bath for the 49ers head coach at the end of an emotionally charged day for players, staff and fans.
It is not the Gatorade bath that Harbaugh will have envisaged or wanted at the beginning of the year. The Niners went into the season in 'Super Bowl or bust' mode but never looked like contenders at any point as they struggled to put together consistent performances.
San Francisco's struggles were set against a backdrop of speculation surrounding Harbaugh's perspective departure, which was finally confirmed shortly after the 20-17 success over the Arizona Cardinals that sealed an 8-8 finish for the Niners.
Harbaugh leaves the 49ers with a fitting total of 49 wins (including post-season) and never experienced a losing season in his time in the Bay. He is now seemingly set to take over at his alma-mater, the University of Michigan, leaving fans and observers alike to wonder how the front office could not reconcile whatever differences they had with a coach as successful as Harbaugh.
The divorce between the Niners and Harbaugh has been described as 'mutual', yet from an outsiders perspective it appears as if this parting was anything but amicable.
However, it is difficult to decipher what issue the 49ers had with Harbaugh. In a press conference on Monday, CEO Jed York stressed that he and Harbaugh came to a "mutual decision" following "philosophical discussions" between the pair.
Meanwhile, Baalke insisted that his relationship with Harbaugh had been "misrepresented" by the media. Yet, with a large number of players coming out in support of their former head coach, it is clear that there was a break down in relations between Harbaugh and someone in the front office and not key members of the locker room as had been reported at certain points in the season.
We will probably never learn the real reason why Harbaugh and the Niners opted to part company after just one bad season. York spoke at the press conference about everybody in the organisation being held accountable for the failure to win a Super Bowl, but it seems Harbaugh is the only person that has paid for that disappointment.
If Harbaugh's departure is just a result of San Francisco's inability to make the postseason, then the move to allow him to walk looks to be an incredibly short-sighted one.
Even with the raft of injuries suffered by the 49ers this season, they still avoided a losing season and ,barring a few second-half collapses, could be playing post-season football. That appears to be being overlooked by a 49er hierarchy that has offered no real explanation as to why he was let go.
Confusion reigns. Now the 49ers have to move on and make sure they get the next hire right and make the most of the obvious talent present on the roster.
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