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Turmoil at San Francisco 49ers ended Jarryd Hayne's NFL dream, US agent says

Michael Chammas
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As Jarryd Hayne prepares to make his return to the State of Origin arena after a two-year absence, the man who made his NFL dream possible has spoken of the instability at the San Francisco 49ers that brought an end to the Blues star's time in the US.

Jack Bechta, the NFL player-agent who opened the door for Hayne to pursue his NFL career, believes he would have held on to his position on the 49ers roster if he had decided to stick with the sport rather than pursue an opportunity to represent Fiji in the Olympics.

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'Respectful of Hayne and his abilities'

As Jarryd Hayne prepares to make his return to the State of Origin arena after a two-year absence, Queensland Maroons head coach Kevin Walters reflects on the current 'foolish' thinking surrounding 'the special player.'

But Bechta said instability at the club was an issue, and the tactics of new coach Chip Kelly would have been like learning another language.

"I have no doubt in my mind JH would have made the Niners and/or most teams had he stayed," Bechta told Fairfax Media on the eve of Hayne's Origin return.

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"Unfortunately, the Niners was not a stable environment for him to learn and excel ... Most NFL people can see starting over again in then new coach Chip Kelly's offence would be like starting over. Like learning a brand new language.

"So the football gods in the States could understand. He made history and I was excited to help make it happen and be a part of it. It was a fun and exciting ride."

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Fairfax Media reached out to a number of 49ers beat reporters who followed the Hayne-NFL story closely.

NBC Sports' Matt Maiocco said Hayne made the right decision to join the 49ers, but the departure of coach Jim Tomsula made it difficult for him.

"I don't know if anyone can relate to the challenge Hayne faced in trying to make the transition to the NFL at the age of 27 – when most NFL players are finishing their careers," Maiocco said.

"He picked the right team. The 49ers were one of the worst teams in the league and had a very unstable situation at running back. He had a difficult time in the first year, as anyone would expect. When the 49ers changed coaching staffs the next year, he had to start from scratch.

"It might have been overwhelming to learn a new playbook, but I think he would have learnt that Chip Kelly's system was actually easier to comprehend.

"Still, I think he would have had a very difficult time earning a spot on the team in his second year because his biggest advocate, 2016 head coach Jim Tomsula, was fired and nobody in the organisation had the time to spend developing a player who had so much to learn about the sport."

The Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows wanted to see Hayne stick it out in the NFL. He believes Hayne would never have been considered one of the sport's elite, but had enough talent to cement a regular spot on an NFL roster.

"Would he have been a star? Probably not," Barrows said. "But he could have been an excellent return man and special teams player. The 49ers may have given up on him too quickly in that role. Despite his short stint in the NFL, it's impressive that someone who hardly had played the sport could make an NFL squad and be a contributor.

"I think an NFL team would give a rugby league player a chance to try out again. But it may take a different kind of player – a younger, less-accomplished player who is willing to start at the bottom – for it to work long term. The sports are too different for someone to come over and in one year master American football."

Bay Area News Group reporter Cam Inman, who developed a liking for rugby league after being exposed to the sport through Hayne's arrival, said the Bay Area had moved on to a new Australian.

"Hayne may be the greatest success story ever ... as exhibition seasons go," Inman said. "His raw, natural athletic ability showed that others indeed should try following his lead.

"Yes, I do believe more Aussies could follow his path, and at other positions. Solomon Thomas, the 49ers top pick in this year's college draft, grew up from ages two to seven in Australia, so go trade those Hayne No.38 jerseys for Thomas' No.94."

As for Bechta, he doesn't believe the door is shut on Hayne in the NFL. ​"If JH came back to the NFL as a punter, he would be one of the best," Bechta said.

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