John Lynch to be 49ers’ new G.M.

49ers hire John Lynch as next GM

http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-hire-John-Lynch-as-next-GM-10892879.php

The 49ers have hired FOX analyst and former Pro Bowl safety John Lynch, 45, to be their new general manager, a league source confirmed.
The news comes as a major surprise: Lynch has no personnel experience and was not connected to the 49ers’ opening before he was hired.
The 49ers are known to have conducted interviews with nine other candidates. They met with Lynch on Thursday and Friday before they agreed to a six-year contract, ESPN reported. They also met with Vikings assistant general manager George Paton and Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough on Saturday in Atlanta. Paton and McDonough were believed to be their final two candidates for the opening.

Lynch, a Stanford graduate who played for Bill Walsh in 1992, is a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist who was a nine-time Pro Bowl safety during a 15-year career that ended in 2007. He spent his final four seasons with the Broncos playing for Mike Shanahan, the father of the 49ers’ presumptive head coach, Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
Lynch wasn’t on the 49ers’ radar until he called Kyle Shanahan about a week ago and volunteered for the job, ESPN reported. Lynch had met with Shanahan before he called the Falcons’ divisional-playoff win over the Seahawks on Jan. 14 in his role as a FOX analyst. During the broadcast, Lynch said Shanahan could come across as arrogant during interviews, but he admired that type of confidence.
Given his lack of front-office experience, the hiring of Lynch lends more credence to the belief Kyle Shanahan could have control of the 53-man roster. Shanahan, 37, is in line to be the NFL’s second-youngest head coach after spending the past nine seasons as an offensive coordinator.
The 49ers were also considering former Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik for their opening, but hadn’t scheduled an interview with him, a source said. Dominik, 45, an ESPN analyst, has a history with Lynch. He was Tampa Bay’s director of pro scouting during seven of Lynch’s 10 seasons with the Buccaneers. It’s not known if the 49ers could still consider him for a front-office role. Dominik’s five-year tenure as Tampa Bay’s GM ended when he was fired in 2013.

The hiring of a general manager with no NFL front-office experience is rare.
Broncos general manager John Elway had that distinction when he was hired by in 2011, although he was a co-owner of an Arena Football League team from 2002 to 2008. Former Lions general manager Matt Millen, a linebacker who played for both the 49ers and Raiders, worked as a TV analyst before he worked in Detroit’s front office from 2001 to 2008.
After firing general manager Trent Baalke on Jan. 1, the 49ers had Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio and Chiefs director of player personnel Chris Ballard high on their wish list, but both declined interviews. Ballard subsequently interviewed with the Colts and was hired as their GM on Sunday.
Packers executive Brian Gutekunst, who was widely reported to be the frontrunner for the position, withdrew from consideration Jan. 20. Green Bay executive Eliot Wolfe also withdrew from consideration.