John Lynch, the 49ers’ general manager, does not appear to be leaving.
Lynch revealed to reporters during the 49ers’ season-ending press conference that he will remain in the Bay Area for the time being.
Hear from John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan as they recap the 2022 season and preview the 49ers offseason plans. https://t.co/d7JGlf4O9o
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) February 1, 2023
“I plan on being here,” Lynch said. “I really do and I’m committed to doing this and I’m having a great time doing it and committed to finding a way to get a little bit better.”
Lynch said that he was “proud” of what the 49ers accomplished despite several injuries, particularly to San Francisco’s quarterbacks, and that while his hopes were to win the Super Bowl, he can still appreciate what was accomplished despite that.
“I’m proud of the team we built,” Lynch continued. “I can’t say enough about the job [49ers coach] Kyle [Shanahan] and his coaching staff did.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for our players, the way they handled themselves and it’s hard to win a game in this league, let alone 12 straight and unfortunately in the last game, it just wasn’t in the cards and I think that will always be there, this feeling.”
In addition to regretting what could have been had the 49ers been fully healthy against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, Lynch stated that the 49ers’ issue moving forward is figuring out how to make the squad good enough to aggressively compete for another Super Bowl.
“I’m committed, our ownership is committed, and Kyle and I are committed to finding a way to improve, which is precisely what we intend to do,” Lynch told reporters. “It’s simply difficult to grasp because you’re still locked in this season.
“In due time, we’ll move forward.”
Since Lynch was named general manager of the San Francisco 49ers in 2017, the team has advanced to the NFC Championship three times (in 2019, 2021, and 2022), as well as Super Bowl LIV versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
Last season, Amazon reportedly approached Lynch and offered him three times his general manager’s pay in an attempt to entice him away from the 49ers and back into the TV booth. Lynch chose to stay in the Bay Area despite the claimed compensation boost.
Lynch will keep working until the 49ers win that elusive Super Bowl trophy, as the team inches closer to a sixth Lombardi trophy.
And the first step on that path is for the 49ers’ general manager to remain in place and continue to build on the foundation that has already been laid.
