The San Francisco 49ers fired their head coach for the third consecutive season, parting with Chip Kelly after they posted a 2-14 record in 2016. The 49ers also fired general manager Trent Baalke, who previously won an internal battle against Jim Harbaugh.

The 49ers hired Kyle Shanahan as head coach and John Lynch as general manager on six-year deals for approximately $11 million combined per season.

Lynch had no prior front office experience as he was hired away from his television job with FOX.

Shanahan has been a successful offensive coordinator in several stops, though this is his first head coaching job.

The San Francisco 49ers announced on Tuesday that they have traded tight end Vance McDonald to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for an undisclosed draft choice. McDonald must pass a physical for the trade to be executed.

“We would like to thank Vance for his contributions to this organization on the field and in the community over the last four seasons,” said John Lynch. “Although I have only known Vance for a short time, I quickly learned that he and his wife, Kendi, have been tremendous representatives for the team in the community and their service to others is quite commendable. We wish the McDonald family all the best as they move on to a new opportunity in Pittsburgh."

McDonald (6-4, 267) was originally drafted by the 49ers in the second round (55th overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft. In four seasons with San Francisco (2013-16), he appeared in 48 games (30 starts) and registered 64 receptions for 866 yards (13.5 average) and seven touchdowns.

The San Francisco 49ers have released Ahmad Brooks.

Brooks joined the 49ers in 2008 and was their longest-tenured defensive player.

The San Francisco 49ers have hired Katie Sowers as an offensive assistant.

Sowers is the second full-time female assistant coach and the first openly gay coach in the NFL.

She joined the Niners as part of their Bill Walsh NFL Coaching Diversity Fellowship in the spring. She had worked previously with coach Kyle Shanahan in 2016, when he was offensive coordinator in Atlanta.

"We plan on her assisting with the receivers," Shanahan said. "Katie did a real good job for us in Atlanta, she's done a really good job here. She helps [receivers coach] Mike LaFleur out, just with some rotations and she helps our quality control [coaches] out just with all the stuff they have to do. She's a hard worker, you don't even notice her because she just goes to work and does what's asked. Because of that, she's someone we'd like to keep around. We're still figuring out exact titles and stuff and what that aspect is, but she's done a good job for us two years in a row in camp and we'd like to have her help out throughout the year."

All members of the San Francisco 49ers stood for the national anthem before last week's preseason opener, but other players around the league made silent protests.

John Lynch was asked on Wednesday if he supports, tolerates and/or has concerns about those silent anthem protests.

"We had a great deal the other day where we had four chairs up here, and there was Steve Young and Jerry Rice," John Lynch said. "And they talked about 'The 49er Way.' And I always thought that's one of the great things about this league. As a matter of fact, I think it's a great beacon for the rest of culture, in terms of the way it should be. You strive for a common goal, and you have unity.

"And I think this game brings people together. So I think personally when I see that, I think that's divisive. And I understand guys see things and they're not happy. They have that right. And I think we'll always respect people's rights. That doesn't mean I believe that. I believe this game should be celebrated for what it is. I think [it's] a tremendous unifier for our country and for the way things should be."

The San Francisco 49ers have cut Jeremy Zuttah just five months after acquiring him in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.

Zuttah was completing with Daniel Kilgore for the starting center position.

"That was a tough decision," Kyle Shanahan said. "That was something we were really looking at last night. I think it says a lot about how Kilgore has been playing. He's done a really good job in practice with that center spot."

Zuttah is coming off a Pro Bowl season with Baltimore.

The NFL has hired former San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke as a football operations consultant.

Baalke is expected to work in a variety of areas, including officiating video review and player development and evaluation.

Tom Coughlin served in a similar role last season.

Baalke was fired by the 49ers after the team went 2-14 during the 2016 season.

Malcolm Smith has suffered a torn pectoral that could end his season.

Smith suffered the injury during Saturday's practice for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium.

Although the injury is likely to keep Smith out for the season, the Niners have not yet made a roster move and could explore their options. 

"That would be a big one for us," NaVorro Bowman said about potentially losing Smith, "just because we've been getting so many reps together, jelling together and really talking about what the offense is trying to do to us throughout these OTAs and training camp. So that would be a loss, but it's early. We have other guys that I feel like can play at this level also. Let's hope not. Let's hope he's able to overcome this and get him back pretty soon."