The 49ers’ general manager search will end in an unexpected place. The franchise is expected to hire Fox analyst and former Pro Bowl safety John Lynch as its GM, Jay Glazer of FoxSports.com tweets. The 49ers confirmed the hire.
The organization will give Lynch a rare six-year contract to try and turn this franchise around, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Lynch met with Kyle Shanahan this week over lunch, and the 49ers offered him the position, Glazer reports (TwitLonger link), adding the goal appears to be an attitude change in the organization.
Schefter reports Lynch accepted the job today after spending time with 49ers brass this week. Lynch spent Thursday and Friday with San Francisco personnel, Schefter reports, a day before the known finalists for this position — Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Cardinals VP of player personnel Terry McDonough — completed their second interviews in Atlanta.
This idea initially came from Lynch, who called Shanahan to volunteer for the job last week, per Schefter, who adds the prospect then grew on the next 49ers head coach. The former safety plans to hire a personnel man as his top lieutenant and has already identified that executive, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets.
Schefter confirms (via Twitter) Shanahan will receive a six-year contract as well for the purposes of the franchise tying together its GM and HC choices. This six-year deal isn’t designed specifically for Lynch, with Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reporting (on Twitter) the 49ers designed a six-year contract for Josh McDaniels to negate the aura of instability around the organization.
Lynch having no front-office experience could be a sign Shanahan would assume more control over personnel decisions, but the Falcons OC is not believed to have requested control over the 53-man roster. Lynch played his final four years for the Mike Shanahan-era Broncos, so the expected power duo in San Francisco has a history, to some degree. Lynch’s relationship with Mike Shanahan could point to a role in San Francisco for the former coach. A place for the elder Shanahan with the 49ers emerged as a possibility earlier this week, although Lynch’s involvement obviously wasn’t believed to be part of the equation.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (on Twitter) Lynch wouldn’t go through with making this career change unless the franchise’s pursuit of him was kept secret. As Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News points out (Twitter link), Lynch had a connection with Bill Walsh as well, playing for the iconic former 49ers coach at Stanford in 1992. Lynch’s leadership and communication skills “wowed” Jed York, Inman notes.
Lynch did not have a formal interview for the position and does not have any experience as a coach or GM. The former Buccaneers and Broncos defender became an NFL analyst after he retired before the 2008 season. Lynch is a Hall of Fame finalist and will edge out the official 49ers GM finalists, who appear to be staying with the Cardinals and Vikings, respectively.
Lynch spent his college years in the Bay Area at Stanford before playing 15 years in the NFL, becoming a two-time first-team All-Pro and a nine-time Pro Bowler. His hire will certainly send shockwaves throughout the league. It’s not completely unlike the Broncos bringing in John Elway in 2011. Elway did not have any previous NFL coaching or front-office experience but did work as an exec in the Arena Football League. Of course, this move also is somewhat similar to Matt Millen‘s Lions hire, with the former linebacker previously working as a Fox analyst.