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For the first time during the current 49ers regime, there is reported friction between head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
In Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller’s post-draft, behind-the-scenes roundup, he said the following about the 49ers brass:
There were handshakes, bro hugs and smiles in the draft room as the 49ers drafted Nick Bosa at No. 2 overall in the 2019 draft, but word out of San Francisco points to friction and a potential breakup of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch.
According to sources in the team’s scouting and coaching staff, the two aren’t in lock step as far as the vision of the offseason and the future of the franchise. The coach, Shanahan, wants to scheme and develop players while not being bothered with the player evaluation process, but more and more he finds himself involved while not trusting the decision-making of Lynch—a former media analyst after his Hall of Fame playing days but not someone with a scouting background.
This is the first we have heard about Shanahan and Lynch supposedly butting heads. Shanahan hired Lynch to be his general manager prior to the 2017 season. They each signed six-year contracts. By all accounts, their partnership has been a smooth one.
So, how accurate is the report? According to Shanahan, not very.
NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, who regularly appears on KNBR, texted Shanahan about Miller’s report, asking his thoughts on its validity.
“Complete bulls—,” Shanahan replied.
Perhaps the “bro hugs and smiles” were real.
