John Lynch

John Lynch is a former National Football League strong safety and the current general manager of the San Francisco 49ers. The nine-time Pro-Bowl safety played 15 seasons in the NFL, before becoming a color commentator for NFL on Fox. Lynch joined FOX as a full-time game analyst in 2009, until accepting the position as general manager in 2017. During his time as a player, Lynch exhibited a high level of skill and was a key contributor to his team's successes, including a Super Bowl victory with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Well-known as one of the hardest hitters during his time in the NFL, Lynch was also regarded as a formidable defensive player. In NFL Films’ production of “Top 10 Most Feared Tacklers,” Lynch was ranked at No. 10. He proved his excellent performance by being named First-Team All-Pro in 1999 and 2000, as well as Second-Team All-Pro in 2001 and 2002.

Lynch made his initial mark in Tampa Bay, where he played his first 11 seasons in the NFL for the Buccaneers, earning five trips to the Pro Bowl (1997, 1999-2002). In 2000 Lynch led the Buccaneers franchise to its first Super Bowl victory over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII. In 2004, Lynch signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos. A known leader, he was named defensive co-captain and registered four more Pro Bowl selections with the team (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007). His contributions to both teams were acknowledged with his induction into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor and the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.

A third round pick out of Stanford in 1993, Lynch was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Pacific-10 Conference as a senior. Lynch began his college career as a quarterback and his athletic abilities weren’t just limited to the gridiron. A star outfielder and pitcher for the Cardinal, Lynch was drafted as a pitcher by the Florida Marlins in the second round (66th overall) of the 1992 amateur draft. He threw the first pitch in the organization's history as a member of the Erie Sailors. His jersey is in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Lauded for his off-the-field work, Lynch was a finalist for the 2002 and 2003 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year awards, an award that honors a player's volunteer and charity work, as well as his excellence on the field. He also received the Bart Starr Award in 2007, recognizing his exemplary character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community. As a testament to his executive prowess, Lynch was honored as the PFWA Executive of the Year in 2019.