The San Francisco 49ers have made a shocking move on Pro Bowl Sunday.
The 49ers are hiring John Lynch to be their new general manager, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. Fox Sports first reported the news. Rapoport added that the 49ers identified Lynch weeks ago as a potential GM.
It was never previously reported that Lynch was in the running for the vacant gig. Lynch has most recently served as an analyst for NFL game broadcasts on FOX since retiring in 2008.
Lynch will be replacing Trent Baalke, whom the Niners fired prior to the team's regular-season finale against the Seahawks on Jan. 1. The team is expected to name Kyle Shanahan their next head coach -- though that announcement has yet to become official. Shanahan is the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, who face the Patriots in Super Bowl LI next Sunday.
Lynch is a Hall of Fame finalist who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos, helping the Bucs to their lone championship in Super Bowl XXXVII against the Raiders.
Around the NFL will have more on this story shortly.
Maybe they let Kyle bring his dad along and hire him as Lynch's right hand man. I can't imagine they would make this hire without having discussed it with Kyle during their interviews.Sounds like Uncle Chap's has struck again. If not, Kyle avoid SF and wait until next year to look for a head coaching job.
A first year head coach with a first year GM with zero personnel experience, what could go wrong?
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports John Lynch came up with the idea to market himself as a general manager candidate, personally calling Kyle Shanahan to "volunteer for the job."
Lynch, who played for Kyle's dad Mike in Denver, apparently sold Kyle on himself via phone conversation "about a week ago." As Schefter put it, the whopping six-year deal the 49ers gave Lynch is "almost unprecedented" for any NFL general manager, let alone one with zero experience in running an organization or evaluating talent. Ultimately, the hiring of Lynch is probably more confirmation that Kyle will be running the show in San Francisco. Lynch is going to have to learn a lot on the job, including how to manage and deal with people, the business side, the draft process, making hirings and firings, and working collaboratively with a widely disliked ownership group.
Beat me to it.ya know who else went from the booth to the front office? matt millen
This is crazy. I'm actually shocked Shanahan would go for this unless he's given a ton of leverage in picking players.
And no franchise QB to build around. Yikes.A first year head coach with a first year GM with zero personnel experience, what could go wrong?
Has there been a successful GM who had zero personnel or scouting experience prior to being a GM? I'm seriously asking.Just because a guy doesn't have experience that doesn't mean he can't do it.
I don't know, John Elway is pretty close I suppose. I do know the incompetence of most of these recycled losers is staggering. I think John Lynch has what it takes to succeed at this level.Has there been a successful GM who had zero personnel or scouting experience prior to being a GM? I'm seriously asking.
A thoughtful, intelligent post on the subject. Shocking.Prediction: This works if they can get Cousins. Cousins plays for the franchise tag again and if SF doesn't get their guy in the draft this year or in 2018, signs Cousins or the Redskins will have to pay him like $33 million in 2018 if they want to franchise tag him again. A 44% raise.
Just because a guy doesn't have experience that doesn't mean he can't do it. Would you rather have a recycled loser? There are plenty of them around looking to keep a different franchise in the basement. They can be competitive in 2 years with Cousins with great drafts. ARI has no current plan for QB so they are heading south. Rams are not far ahead of SF and SEA is not what they once were.
Millen was garbage. He's dumb. He proved it.
It wouldn't surprise me if Shanahan and Cousins have already discussed it.A thoughtful, intelligent post on the subject. Shocking.
Shanahan is obviously going to have a lot of input on player selection, especially on the offensive side. I would assume Lynch has a good feel for the defensive side. Everything I have read says he's a smart guy. I would rather have an inexperienced smart guy than another retread. I like the fact they are giving him 6 years (reported Shanahan is getting 6 years as well). This is a huge project and I like this combo as a starting point. Will be interesting to see the next hires.
I have looked at the Cousins situation in the same way. He seems content on playing under the franchise tag for another year. Gonna be hard for the Redskins to pay him 34 million in 2018 if they don't pony up a long term deal to his liking. SF has the money to give him a max deal.
As the zen master said, "we'll see", but the Lynch/Shanahan combo exceeds my expectations of what Jed and Parog would end up with.
Yeah, love how so many point to Millen as the surefire result of Lynch being hired. Millen's demeaner was of someone who didn't even want the job and didn't know how to surround himself with good people. Just maybe Lynch does know how to.Also , Detroit ownership is directly responsible for Matt Millen's legendary status as a GM. Without their incompetent ownership, he wouldn't be the measuring stick for GMs with zero experience.
Isn't that considered tampering?It wouldn't surprise me if Shanahan and Cousins have already discussed it.
Not if both of them are smart enough to keep it between themselves. ?Isn't that considered tampering?
Yep but only if someone finds out.Isn't that considered tampering?
True. I'm sure this happens more often than we ever know about it. I just don't really see the risk outweighing the reward. If that were ever to go public and SF were to be punished they'd be even more crippled with draft pick sanctions.Not if both of them are smart enough to keep it between themselves. ?
Bigboy10182000 said:Has there been a successful GM who had zero personnel or scouting experience prior to being a GM? I'm seriously asking.
Is there literally nothing in between "recycled loser" and "guy with no personnel or scouting experience"?lod001 said:I don't know, John Elway is pretty close I suppose. I do know the incompetence of most of these recycled losers is staggering. I think John Lynch has what it takes to succeed at this level.
Actually everyone is between them. A recycled loser is a guy who fails miserably at the job and yet another team hires him anyway, to do the same thing, of which he repeats his loser ways. A guy with no personnel or scouting experience has never even been given a chance...usually because the team is afraid to take the chance and would rather hire the recycled loser and continue sucking.Is there literally nothing in between "recycled loser" and "guy with no personnel or scouting experience"?
Is there literally nothing in between "recycled loser" and "guy with no personnel or scouting experience"?