After a stellar career as one of the best safeties in the NFL, John Lynch has enjoyed more success as an executive in the San Francisco 49ers‘ front office. But just how did he help to turn the 49ers’ franchise back into one of the NFL’s elite?
Here’s a look at John Lynch’s career as both a player and executive in the NFL.
John Lynch’s NFL Playing Career
A third-round pick (82nd pick overall) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1993 NFL Draft out of Stanford, Lynch spent 15 seasons as a safety in the NFL, first with the Buccaneers (11 seasons) and later with the Denver Broncos (four seasons).
A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Lynch earned first-team All-Pro honors twice — also named as a second-team All-Pro twice — and was a key member of Tampa Bay’s win in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Following the 2003 season, Lynch signed with the Broncos and made the Pro Bowl in all four seasons in Denver. He nearly made a second Super Bowl appearance, but the Broncos fell at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2005 AFC Championship Game.
Lynch, who finished with 26 interceptions in his career, retired in 2008. In 2021, Lynch was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
After spending time as a color analyst on NFL games for Fox, Lynch moved into the front office, agreeing to become the general manager of the 49ers in Jan. 2017.
How Lynch Helped To Build the San Francisco 49ers
Lynch’s first major move with the 49ers was quick. Just weeks after getting hired, Lynch tabbed Kyle Shanahan as head coach. In his first NFL Draft as a GM, Lynch selected All-Pro tight end George Kittle in the third round.
Lynch built the 49ers through a combination of the draft and free agency. Through the draft, Lynch was able to select stars in the early rounds like defensive end Nick Bosa (No. 2 pick, 2019), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (second-round pick, 2019), and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (No. 25 pick, 2020).
But he also found players in the later rounds of the NFL Draft. Starting linebackers Fred Warner (third round, 2018) and Dre Greenlaw (fourth round, 2019) were picked after the first two rounds.
And perhaps the greatest Mr. Irrelevant of all time, starting quarterback Brock Purdy, was the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. In all, of the 21 players who started at least 10 games this season for the 49ers, 13 of them were drafted by San Francisco.
But Lynch also was a wheeler and dealer. One of his earliest and most important trades was the acquisition of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from the New England Patriots during the 2017 season. Garoppolo would play a major role in the 49ers’ run to Super Bowl LIV in the 2019 season.
One of Lynch’s biggest moves as general manager was to work out a deal with the Carolina Panthers to acquire All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey during the 2022 NFL season. And two years before that trade, Lynch made a deal with the Washington Commanders to acquire All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams.
MORE: San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart
The results speak for themselves. Since Lynch became the general manager, the 49ers have made four appearances in the NFC Championship Game over the last five seasons and are one win away from a second trip to the Super Bowl in the last five years.
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