© Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
SANTA CLARA — Fewer than 10 minutes after the Seattle Seahawks released cornerback Richard Sherman, his phone rang. 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan were on the other line, eager to recruit the four-time first-team All-Pro cornerback to the Bay Area.
Within 28 hours, after both sides met twice, a deal had been solidified.
“That meant a lot to me, just the want of a team,” Sherman said on Tuesday. “Obviously it showed Seattle didn’t value me as much; let me go see the market. I think there is something to be said for both.”
The first glimpse of Sherman in 49ers colors came on Tuesday morning, as he held his introductory press conference with his new team. Resplendent in a bright red suit, Sherman smiled and posed for photos before detailing his multi-layered decision to join the 49ers.
He said he enjoys the Bay Area, where he played college football. He wanted to remain close to his and fiancé Ashley Moss’ families, both of which live on the West Coast.
When asked why he joined an organization littered with failure and dysfunction in recent years, however, Sherman pointed to the two facilitators.
“It’s John (Lynch) and Kyle (Shanahan),” Sherman said. “They brought stability to this organization. They brought fun. They brought belief. They brought faith. The players believe they can win, (and) the players believe in the staff. Everybody I have spoken to speaks very highly about everybody on the staff.”
Last year, after going 2-14 in the 2016 season, the 49ers brought in Lynch and Shanahan, despite neither holding previous experience at their appointed positions. In one year, they have revitalized a struggling franchise into one of the most exciting young teams in the league.
With quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo at the forefront, the Bay Area has become a destination for free agents.
“It’s 75 degrees and sunny outside,” said Lynch on Feb. 9, while sitting next to Garoppolo at his press conference. “We’ve got this guy. Who wouldn’t want to be here?”
It was a recruiting pitch that would prosper in the following several weeks.
San Francisco has enjoyed arguably the best free agency of any team so far. The 49ers have already signed five former free agents, all of whom fill major needs.
Shanahan and Lynch’s aggression can be traced back to 2017 free agency, as they laid the foundation for what they would build upon one year later. Last offseason, with more than $90 million in cap space, the 49ers signed 33 non-rookie free agents. On the first day of free agency alone, San Francisco inked seven players to new deals.
Shanahan targeted players he trusted from past working relationships, including Pierre Garcon and Aldrick Robinson. Shanahan added trusted veterans Robbie Gould and 2018 Pro Bowler Kyle Juszczyk, while taking low-risk chances on guys looking to revitalize their careers, such as Marquise Goodwin.
One month later, the 49ers used the draft to round out their roster. Linebacker Reuben Foster, defensive end Solomon Thomas, and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon became steady cogs in the defense. Tight end George Kittle and wide receiver Trent Taylor produced encouraging rookie seasons.
Shanahan’s offense found its stride after acquiring quarterback Garoppolo from New England, the result of the 49ers head coach’s persistence.
“(Shanahan) always gave us issues with plays we had never seen,” Sherman said. “The rest of the league piggybacks on what he has.”
Shanahan reportedly had discussions with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick about Garoppolo in the 2017 offseason, but Belichick wouldn’t budge. The 49ers revisited the possibility midway through the year. They walked away with the steal of the NFL season, swapping a second-rounder for Garoppolo.
With their $137.5 million quarterback as a selling point, Shanahan and Lynch have pursued their most coveted free agent targets in recent weeks— and succeeded.
One of them was former Minnesota running back Jerick McKinnon. Shanahan reportedly ‘wouldn’t be denied’ in his pursuit for McKinnon, who was a popular commodity among teams hungry for running backs.
Later that day, Shanahan and Lynch pounced on former New York Giant Weston Richburg, one of the most versatile centers in the league.
Richburg and McKinnon were introduced as official members of the 49ers later that week. Shanahan and Lynch sat next to them at the podium, and agreed that securing these two players were their “biggest priorities.” Shanahan and Lynch gave a similar vote of confidence to Sherman when they reached out to him in the minutes following his release.
It’s easy to see why players are drawn to Shanahan and Lynch. They’re young, energetic, and personable. They make prospective players feel like they are a central part of the team’s mission.
Shanahan and Lynch have now put the 49ers in a position that fosters high expectations, a remarkable feat considering what they inherited one year ago.
Brad Almquist is KNBR.com’s 49ers beat writer. For full 49ers coverage, follow Brad @bquist13.
