San Francisco 49ers hire John Lynch as General Manager

In a surprise move, the San Francisco 49ers announced that the team has named John Lynch the 11th General Manager in franchise history.

Although Lynch was a Pro Bowl-caliber safety with a reputation for being a smart and knowledgeable man, he also has had no prior front office experience.

One of the most respected players to ever play the game of football, and a four-time finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Lynch joins the 49ers after spending the past eight years (2009-16) as a color analyst for FOX Sports.

“During his 15 seasons as an NFL player, John epitomized what is so special about the game of football,” said 49ers CEO Jed York. “A world-class competitor, his love and respect for the sport are unmatched, and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone in league circles who does not have great respect for his work ethic and passion. Having already helped lead a team to a Super Bowl title as a player, John is equipped with tremendous insight into what it takes to create a culture that breeds sustained success. Having spent the last eight seasons as an analyst with FOX, he has honed his skills as a talented communicator while also developing valuable relationships around the league and a vast knowledge of the NFL that will be beneficial to our team. As we learned more and more about John, it became apparent that he was not only one of the best to ever play this game but also a Hall of Fame caliber man, one who people are compelled to follow.”

It certainly won't be an easy gig for Lynch in San Francisco.  Lately, the 49ers have been in disarray, as they have fired multiple coaches in the last three seasons. Moreover, the team does not have great overall talent on the roster, a fact compounded by the 49ers lack of a reliable option at quarterback.

Prior to joining FOX, Lynch enjoyed a 15-year career in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-2003) and the Denver Broncos (2004-07). A four-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowl selection, he played in 224 games (191 starts) and registered 1,277 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 26 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, and 100 passes defensed.

Lynch also started all 12 playoff games in which he appeared and tallied 71 tackles, two interceptions and 12 passes defensed. He was a captain of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Super Bowl XXXVII Championship team and has been inducted into the Ring of Honor in both Tampa Bay and Denver.

Lynch attended nearby Stanford University where he excelled in both football and baseball.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services