Biography
One of the most respected players to ever play the game of football, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021, John Lynch is in his eighth season with the 49ers and second as the team's President of Football Operations/General Manager. He spent his first six years (2017-2022) with the organization as the team's General Manager following a 15-year playing career and more than eight seasons as an NFL analyst.
Since coming to San Francisco, Lynch has been vigilant in seeking and acquiring the players that embody the team's culture on the field and in the community. While working hand-in-hand with head coach Kyle Shanahan and the coaching staff, Lynch and his personnel staff continue to add players through all available avenues. Following a 13-3 regular season record and a trip to Super Bowl LIV, Lynch was named the 2019 Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America after his third season as the team's general manager.
One of the most respected players to ever play the game of football, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021, John Lynch is in his eighth season with the 49ers and second as the team's President of Football Operations/General Manager. He spent his first six years (2017-2022) with the organization as the team's General Manager following a 15-year playing career and more than eight seasons as an NFL analyst.
Since coming to San Francisco, Lynch has been vigilant in seeking and acquiring the players that embody the team's culture on the field and in the community. While working hand-in-hand with head coach Kyle Shanahan and the coaching staff, Lynch and his personnel staff continue to add players through all available avenues. Following a 13-3 regular season record and a trip to Super Bowl LIV, Lynch was named the 2019 Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America after his third season as the team's general manager.
In 2023, the 49ers tallied a 12-5 record, starting the season 5-0 and winning seven of their last nine games. San Francisco won its second-consecutive NFC West title, the number one seed throughout the NFC playoffs, the team's third-consecutive NFC Championship Game and the eighth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. The 49ers trip to Super Bowl LVIII was their second in five seasons.
Five members of the 2023 San Francisco 49ers were named Associated Press First-Team All-Pro in FB Kyle Juszczyk, TE George Kittle, RB Christian McCaffrey, LB Fred Warner and T Trent Williams, as well as two Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro selections in WR Brandon Aiyuk and CB Charvarius Ward. Nine 49ers were selected to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, the most the team has donned since the 2013 Pro Bowl (DL Nick Bosa, DL Javon Hargrave, Juszczyk, Kittle, McCaffrey, QB Brock Purdy, Ward, Warner and Williams). Prior to the start of the regular season, San Francisco signed Bosa to a five-year extension. McCaffrey, who led the NFL in rushing yards in 2023, was named Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year as well as the PFWA Offensive Player of the Year. In his first full season as a starter, Purdy led the NFL in passer rating (113.0) and yards per attempt (9.6), while setting the franchise record for passing yards (4,280) and throwing 31 touchdowns, becoming the first 49ers QB to throw 30-or-more touchdowns in a single season in 22 years.
Lynch and the 2022 49ers finished with a 13-4 regular season record, including wins in each of their last 10 games and a NFC West title. San Francisco earned a berth in the NFC Championship Game following a pair of home playoff game victories over the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys. The Niners saw four Associated Press First-Team All-Pro selections in Bosa, S Talanoa Hufanga, Warner and Trent Williams, as well as two AP Second-Team All-Pro selections in Kittle and S George Odum (special teamer), all of whom were acquired by Lynch. Bosa was named Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year after leading the NFL with a career-high 18.5 sacks.
In October of 2022, Lynch and the Niners acquired McCaffrey in a mid-season trade with the Carolina Panthers. McCaffrey went on to register 1,210 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns after joining the team in Week 7. San Francisco saw three starting quarterbacks during the season, with rookie QB Brock Purdy, the final overall draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, becoming the team's starter in Week 13. Purdy went 7-1 as a starter, including the playoffs, and became the first quarterback in franchise history to win their first five starts and the third rookie quarterback in NFL history to win at least their first five starts.
Lynch and the 49ers, along with the entire NFL, went into the 2021 offseason facing a new challenge with a reduced salary cap. San Francisco navigated the adjustment and retained core players who played vital roles for the team. The team was able to re-sign All-Pro T Trent Williams to a six-year extension and Pro Bowl FB Kyle Juszczyk to a five-year deal, while also re-signing key pieces of their defense in DL D.J. Jones, CB Emmanuel Moseley, S Jaquiski Tartt, CB Jason Verrett and CB K'Waun Williams. Additionally, the team was able to sign All-Pro C Alex Mack, who is a member of 2010's All-Decade Team, along with DL Samson Ebukam.
The 2021 49ers earned a tip to their second NFC Championship in three seasons (2019). The offense featured WR Deebo Samuel, who earned Associated Press First-Team All-Pro honors and the first Pro Bowl selection of his career. In 16 games (15 starts), Samuel registered 77 receptions for 1,405 receiving yards (18.2 average) and five receiving touchdowns to go along with career-highs in carries (59), rushing yards (365) and rushing touchdowns (eight). His eight rushing touchdowns were the most by any player whose primary position is wide receiver since the merger. Second-year WR Brandon Aiyuk also added 56 catches for 826 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground, rookie RB Elijah Mitchell set the franchise record for most rushing yards by a rookie (963).
In 2020, San Francisco signed TE George Kittle to a five-year extension and re-signed a pair of key pieces of their defense in DL Arik Armstead and DB Jimmie Ward. Lynch and his staff then addressed the departures of key veterans, with the selection of WR Brandon Aiyuk and the acquisition of All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection, Trent Williams, in a draft-day trade with Washington. That season, Lynch and the 49ers leadership steered their way through the COVID-19 pandemic, a situation that included the relocation of the team's football operations to Arizona for the final month of the season.
Following the 2018 season, Lynch continued to improve the 49ers roster through trades, free agency and the 2019 NFL Draft. The offseason started with the 49ers acquiring DL Dee Ford via trade and signing him to a five-year contract followed by the signing of free agent LB Kwon Alexander. The 49ers added eight players to the roster during the 2019 NFL Draft, including DL Nick Bosa with the second overall selection, who went on to be named the 2019 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Lynch continued to add to the roster during the season as the 49ers acquired WR Emmanuel Sanders via trade, a move that proved integral to the team winning the NFC Championship.
In 2018, Lynch bolstered the 49ers offensive line with the additions of C Weston Richburg through free agency and T Mike McGlinchey in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Richburg went on to start 15 games at center while McGlinchey started all 16 games at right tackle and earned All-Rookie Team honors from the Pro Football Writers of America and ESPN. San Francisco also selected LB Fred Warner in the third round of that year's draft. Warner would later become a multiple Associated Press First-Team All-Pro selection and earn his first trip to the Pro Bowl following the 2020 season. The team also added free agent CB Richard Sherman who went on to earn his fifth Associated Press All-Pro selection in 2019 with the 49ers.
In his first season with San Francisco, Lynch brought in several key players through free agency, including K Robbie Gould and FB Kyle Juszczyk, who impacted the team immediately. Gould led the NFL with a career-high 39 made field goals and a career-high 145 points and Juszczyk was selected to the Pro Bowl. That year's NFL Draft saw San Francisco select TE George Kittle in the fifth round, as Kittle has since earned First-Team All-Pro honors (2019), been selected to two Pro Bowls (2019-20) and set the then-NFL record for the most receiving yards by a tight end at the time with 1,377 in 2018.
Lynch was also responsible for acquiring G Laken Tomlinson and QB Jimmy Garoppolo in trades. Tomlinson was acquired on August 31, 2017 and started the final 15 games of the season at left guard. He was rewarded with a three-year contract extension through the 2021 season on June 22, 2018. Garoppolo, who was traded to San Francisco on October 30, 2017, started the final five games of the season and posted a 5-0 record while setting the franchise record for most passing yards in the first five starts with the team (1,542 yards). On February 8, 2018, Garoppolo signed a five-year contract extension through the 2022 season and led the team to a 38-17 career record in the regular season (4-2 in the postseason) as the 49ers starting quarterback.
Lynch joined the 49ers in February of 2017 after serving as a color analyst for FOX Sports from 2009-16. In his final season of 2016 with FOX, he manned the number two broadcast crew alongside play-by-play announcer Kevin Burkhardt.
Prior to his time at FOX, Lynch constructed one of the all-time great NFL careers while 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 Buccaneers team captain as the squad achieved the crown jewel of team sports, a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII, and has been inducted into the Ring of Honor in both Tampa Bay and Denver.
Lynch attended Stanford University where he excelled in both football and baseball. On the football field, he earned Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Pac-10 Conference honors as a senior, while playing for Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh. Lynch was later selected in the third round (82nd overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay. Following his career on the diamond for the Cardinal, he was selected in the second round (66th overall) of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins.
In addition to his stellar play on the field, Lynch is also a pillar of the community. He and his wife, Linda, formed the John Lynch Foundation, which is committed to inspiring young people to become leaders through scholarship, sport participation and community involvement. The Foundation is committed to developing leaders by encouraging dreams, providing programs that assist and motivate, and recognizing achievement and excellence.
Lynch was the recipient of the 2006 Bart Starr Award, which is voted upon by players throughout the NFL and recognizes a player who shows outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community. He was also presented with The Byron "Whizzer" White Award, which is given annually to the NFL player who serves his team, community and country in the spirit of Bryon Raymond White. In 2019, Lynch received the prestigious Wender Weis Change Maker Award, which is given annually to a current or former professional athlete who has used their sports platform to improve the lives of underserved youth. Additionally, Lynch was the 2019 recipient of the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Positive Coaching Alliance, the Ireland Funds 2020 Distinguished Leadership Award recipient and the 2021 Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award recipient.
With a longstanding appreciation for the United States military stemming from his grandfather and great uncle both volunteering for the Army the day after the deadly attacks on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Lynch has twice (2017 & 2020) been the 49ers nominee for the Annual Salute to Service Award presented by USAA, including his selection as one of three finalists for the Award in 2020.
John and his wife, Linda, have four children – Jake, Lindsay, Lilly and Leah.