After four seasons together, Katie Sowers and the 49ers decided to go their separate ways.
Several sources confirmed to the NBC Sports Bay Area on Thursday that friction between the parties was not the basis for the split and that Sowers is leaving on good terms. The assistant coach’s contract ended at the end of the 2020 season and has not been renewed.
Sowers confirmed the news that she is no longer employed by the 49ers in the NBC Sports Bay Area, and she later posted a farewell message on Instagram.
In September, Sowers’ sister Liz said in a social media post that the coach was being disrespected by the team. Liz indicated this was evident from Katie’s seat assignment on the team’s chartered flight back to Santa Clara after the 49ers’ victory in Week 3 over the New York Giants.
Liz claimed that her sister was sitting in economy class, while all other full-time coaches were in first class. Neither the 49ers nor Katie confirmed the statement, and the post was deleted shortly thereafter.
Seeders have been employed by 49ers since 2017, originally as a seasonal assistant and, finally, as a full-time offensive assistant, working primarily with wide receivers. Sowers was the first to be the first full-time and openly gay female coach in NFL history.
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There is a possibility that the lack of upward mobility within the organization is the reason for the end of Sowers’ time with the 49ers. If so, she will now have the opportunity to explore options across the league.
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