Very few NFL general managers have been as successful recently at building as talented of a roster as John Lynch has. The San Francisco 49ers have superstar-caliber players all over the field on both sides of the ball.
However, before Lynch was building superstar teams, he was making sure receivers didn’t want to catch the ball over the middle of the field.
John Lynch, the Player
Young 49ers fans may just be happy he is their GM, but there is a generation of Tampa Bay Buccaneers who loved him as a player.
He played for the Buccaneers from 1993-2003 and then the Broncos from 2004-2007. During his playing days, he made the Pro Bowl nine times. In 1999 and 2000, he was first-team All-Pro and followed that up with consecutive second-team All-Pro seasons. He was also a Super Bowl champion with Tampa Bay when the Buccaneers beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in Super Bowl 37.
He was an absolute menace at the safety position, where he wasn’t afraid at all to separate a receiver from the ball. He was also very good at getting interceptions, as he finished with 26 in his career.
The NFL has changed many of the rules when it comes to player safety, especially regarding hitting receivers. Lynch was a true enforcer as a player, and it’s unlikely we will see safeties quite like him again.
John Lynch, the Broadcaster
More and more players are retiring and getting involved with covering the NFL in some capacity for the media. Lynch did this too, in an era when not as many players were doing it.
In 2008, he joined NFL on Fox as a color commentator with Chris Rose and Kevin Burkhardt. The success he had as an announcer helped him get the next job as a general manager.
His ability to talk about the players and what it takes to build a great team was a strength of his, and the 49ers took notice.
John Lynch, the General Manager
Lynch became the man in charge in San Francisco in 2017, and his first move was the first of many great decisions.
Shortly after being named the GM of the 49ers, Lynch hired Kyle Shanahan to be the team’s new coach. That move has been a huge success, as they have been to the NFC Championship four times, with two appearances in the Super Bowl.
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Then, Lynch got to building a loaded team, and the roster he has put together is impressive. Guys like Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle have been absolute home-run picks. The move to take Brock Purdy with the last pick two years ago is looking like a potential all-time selection.
Not only has he drafted well, but he has made some great trades and free-agent signings. Bringing in Christian McCaffrey has taken the team to another level, and they also went out and signed left tackle Trent Williams, who is still arguably the best in the business.
A Super Bowl Win Would Be Legacy-Defining for Lynch
To win a Super Bowl as a player and executive would be a great resume booster for Lynch. He has put together a team and staff that has shown to be among the NFL’s best for some time, and it appears he will be in San Francisco for a long time.
Last September, he was given a contract extension and a new title as the president of football operations.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!