49ers Hire FOX Analyst John Lynch As General Manager

The San Francisco 49ers have hired former NFL safety and current FOX NFL analyst John Lynch to be their new general manager, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

SF is hiring Hall-of-Fame candidate and FOX analyst John Lynch as GM, sources tell ESPN. Lynch back to Bay Area, where he went to Stanford.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2017

49ers are giving John Lynch an almost unprecedented six-year deal to become their GM, per sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2017

Lynch spent 15 years in the NFL, playing his first 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before finishing his career with the Denver Broncos. The 9-time Pro Bowler won Super Bowl XXXVII with the Bucs, and is a finalist to be enshrined into the Hall of Fame this fall.

After retiring in 2008, Lynch immediately joined FOX Sports as a color commentator for the NFL broadcasts, a role he has held since. He has no front office experience.

The 49ers are still officially without a head coach, but everything is pointing to them hiring Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan for the role. Shanahan's father, Mike, coached Lynch during his stint with the Broncos.

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