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Jed York likes where 49ers are heading
By Tom Williams
YOUNGSTOWN
San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York doesn’t think of his new general manager as a former TV analyst.
“John [Lynch] is a guy who lives and breathes football for his entire life,” York said on Thursday before the Edward J. DeBartolo Memorial Scholarship Foundation dinner at the Covelli Centre. “When he did television, it wasn’t like he just showed up on game day and called the game. He was working on film all week.
“He was a guy who stayed plugged in to college, stay plugged in to the pros.”
On Jan. 29, the 49ers named Lynch their new GM to replace Trent Baalke who, along with head coach Chip Kelly, was fired after the team went 2-14 in 2016.
After retiring in 2008, Lynch became an analyst for FOX Sports.
“John is great at putting together a team around him and he’s an unbelievable general,” York said. “He’s not afraid to make the calls.”
On Feb. 6, the Niners hired Kyle Shanahan to be the new head coach. He’s the 49ers’ fourth head coach in as many seasons.
“They have such 49ers roots,” York said of Lynch and Shanahan. “John played for [Bill] Walsh disciples,” citing Denny Green as well as Mike Shanahan, Kyle’s father.
“Kyle obviously grew up knowing Bill’s system,” York said. “So it’s great when you see that sort of old-school 49er feeling come back.
“And the players feel it.”
Last season, Shanahan was the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator and his hiring came a day after the Falcons lost to the Patriots in overtime, 34-28, in Super Bowl 51.
In the 2014 season, Shanahan was the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns. He then spent two seasons with the Falcons.
“He and I speak the same language,” York said of his 37-year-old head coach. “We do things the same way because he grew up in this system. We’re always on the same page.
“There’s obviously a lot of work that needs to be done,” York said, “but we’re certainly heading in the right direction.”
The scholarship dinner normally is populated with plenty of current 49ers. But because the team’s mini-camp ended on Wednesday in Santa Clara, Calif., none were present. Charles Haley and Keena Turner were among the 49ers retirees in attendance.
“Our guys have a few weeks off,” York said. “It’s been a good go so far with Kyle and crew.
“We’ll see how everything goes when we get back for training camp.”
York said he enjoys supporting the foundation that honors his grandfather.
“It’s great to get back to ... the community that you are from,” York said. “To be able to find kids who have had a tougher upbringing and need help getting a college education, we always want to [help].
“We always want to find kids who can make their community and the world a better place.”