Well here’s the mystery candidate, ladies and gentlemen. According to multiple sources around the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers are hiring legendary NFL safety and FOX analyst John Lynch to become the new general manager.
SF is hiring Hall-of-Fame candidate and FOX analyst John Lynch as GM, sources tell ESPN. Lynch back to Bay Area, where he went to Stanford.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2017
49ers are giving John Lynch an almost unprecedented six-year deal to become their GM, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2017
This is a stunning move, because Lynch’s name never popped up as a potential candidate, nor was he among those who attended the meetings with Jed York, Paraag Marathe and Kyle Shanahan.
That said, Lynch clearly has Shanahan’s blessing.
“The idea to hire Lynch was his own. He personally called Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan about a week ago, and volunteered for the job,” Schefter wrote.
During his 15-year career, spent mostly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before he finished with the Denver Broncos, Lynch was one of the NFL’s toughest and most talented defenders on the back end. A future Hall of Famer, he brings an tremendous amount of football knowledge with him, though it remains to be seen how it will translate to success in an NFL front office.
The 49ers will surely be eager to add Shanahan after Super Bowl LI. Atlanta Falcons assistants have reportedly been told that he’s accepting the position, and it will be shocking if he doesn’t sign with the 49ers as soon as he’s able following the big game next weekend.