San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh started losing the trust of some of his players when he was not honest with former quarterback Alex Smith about the team’s pursuit of Peyton Manning in 2012, according to ESPN.

According to the report, Smith specifically asked Harbaugh about the 49ers’ interest in Manning. Harbaugh had flown to North Carolina to meet with Manning and work him out, but he was reportedly less than forthright with Smith about the visit.

Some 49ers players then decided they could not trust Harbaugh.

Smith was eventually traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, the team the 49ers host on Sunday afternoon.

Manning signed with the Denver Broncos.

A week ago, NFL Network’s Deion Sanders, a former All-Pro cornerback, said the 49ers players “want him out. They’re not on the same page.”

Harbaugh responded to Sanders’ claim by saying, “Personally, I think that’s a bunch of crap.”

Harbaugh is in the fourth year of a five-year contract. Negotiations to extend the deal have been tabled.