San Francisco 49ers

49ers to hire FOX analyst, ex-NFL safety John Lynch as general manager

Published Jan. 29, 2017 9:17 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

The San Francisco 49ers will hire former NFL safety and FOX analyst John Lynch as their new general manager, FOX Sports NFL Insider Jay Glazer reported Sunday.

https://twitter.com/JayGlazer/status/825877556050145281

Lynch, who hasn’t held a front-office position, will receive a six-year deal, ESPN reported. Lynch was named to nine Pro Bowls and helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl title.

Lynch is one of 15 modern-day finalists for the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class that will be announced next weekend and takes over for Trent Baalke, who was fired earlier this month. The 49ers are coming off their second consecutive season with double-digit losses.

San Francisco fired Chip Kelly as head coach on the final day of the season after he guided the team to a 2-14 mark in his one year on the job. It's the second straight year the 49ers have fired their head coach after one season, having let go of Jim Tomsula last offseason.

The 49ers are expected to hire Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan to fill their head-coaching void after the Super Bowl. Vikings assistant GM George Paton and Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough both reportedly interviewed for the 49ers’ GM opening over the weekend, and a handful of other candidates preceded them.

Lynch, a hard-hitting safety during his 15-year career, played for his first 11 years in the NFL with the Bucs and his final four years with the Denver Broncos. He played for Kyle Shanahan's father, Mike, during his years with the Broncos, and the 49ers had the two meet earlier this week, Glazer reported.