A Rosendale, Wisconsin native, Baalke earned his bachelor's degree in health and physical education at Bemidji State University, where he played outside linebacker and was an All-Northern Sun Conference and All-Midwest Region honoree.
Baalke was chosen to lead the 49ers in the 2010 NFL draft, in place of Scot McCloughan, and a month later was given the title of vice president of player personnel.
[4] Baalke's official promotion to general manager came shortly after the firing of Mike Singletary as head coach of the 49ers, in anticipation of needing an official general manager to lure Jim Harbaugh away from Stanford for the vacant coaching position.
In this advisory role for NFL, he worked on game-related matters, player development, evaluation, and officiating video review.
[12] On November 29, he was promoted to interim general manager following the firing of David Caldwell,[13] and was retained for the role full-time after the season.