I have decided to retire my nickname for Jed York — Prince of York. I want you to know this.

The whole meaning of calling him Prince of York was to blatantly say he had not earned anything — he had things given to him. I was implying he is green and over his head and undeserving. I also referred to him as Jed because I wanted to show he did not deserve to be called by his last name — had not earned that dignified formality.

So, I’m calling it quits. He has earned our consideration and my consideration and yes, our respect by hiring Jim Harbaugh, by making this happen. I believe he had a lot of growing to do — he still has some to do. But he’s grown by light years and it’s only fair to acknowledge that in public.

There is no guarantee Jim Harbaugh will do well, but just about everyone agrees this was the correct hire for the 49ers, and Jed York made it happen. He showed grace under fire — some of that fire from me.

There’s something else and I hope I can explain this well. At Friday’s news conference introducing Harbaugh as the new head coach, I asked only one question in the group session which you saw on TV. I waited until later when the Niners provided what they call “breakout sessions” because the access is better and more informal. It meant York, Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh made themselves available in the room to the media off camera.

I spent a lot of time talking to Baalke. I wanted to know why he chose Harbaugh and I wanted to get a better feel for him. When I was done I made my way over to York who was surrounded by media. I stood in front of him and got ready for my question — what he saw in Baalke — but a PR guy, Ryan Moore, a good guy, told me York had to leave for a TV commitment. York politely stopped him. He said he would be happy to answer my question. I asked it and York answered in detail.

I am not the kind of columnist who swoons when a team owner or official is gracious to him. York and I are not friends. I have my own friends. But I noticed York was professional, polite, even gracious when we spoke. He could have thrown it in my face that he got Harbaugh and I had doubted him. He was above that. He had grown and I’d be remiss not to notice or respect that. So now I call him York, not Prince or Jed.

If the team fails next season or if Harbaugh is no good I’ll write that, as I should. And if York screws up I’ll write that as I should and as he would expect me to do. But he has earned an important level of respect from me — if that matters at all to him. So I retire Prince and I retire Jed, and let’s move on.