This is an important season for head coach Kyle Shanahan. His San Francisco 49ers reached the Super Bowl during the 2019 season, showing the potential of the young brilliant mind. However, the team has suffered through losing seasons in his other three years.
Everyone seems willing to give the 49ers a pass for last season's six-win campaign. The team was among the most injury-plagued over the last two decades. Injuries to many of its stars forced the championship-caliber roster to depend on depth players to carry the team.
Analysts expect more from the 49ers in 2021, assuming the team can remain relatively healthy.
General manager John Lynch will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Sunday thanks to a brilliant NFL career as a safety. Since Thursday, he has been part of the festivities in Canton, Ohio, which included that night's Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The former broadcaster couldn't avoid questions about his current team—the 49ers.
"I think we're working hard," Lynch told Troy Aikman and Joe Buck in the broadcast booth. "I think there's some good fortune that has to come your way, but if we can do that, I think we can do have a chance. That's all you can ask for in this league, is a chance, and I think we have a legitimate one."
Aikman is a big fan of Shanahan's and considers him among the best young minds in the game. That's something that Aikman's former broadcast colleague, Lynch, learned in production meetings as an analyst with FOX.
"Troy, you feel it when you're in those production meetings," Lynch said. "That's really how I got to know him. Everyone thinks it's the connection with Mike (Shanahan). It was really in production meetings, and I was always just mesmerized when this guy was talking football.
"What I didn't know is how's he going to present in front of the team and all that. He's a young guy. I thought I might have to help him there. He's been awesome from day one. So, it's time for that to start transferring onto the field with wins in a consistent manner, and we think that day is coming."
Of course, no interview with Lynch would be complete without asking about the most popular topic of training camp—the quarterbacks. Jimmy Garoppolo figures to be the starter this season. However, the 49ers traded up to draft Trey Lance as his eventual successor.
"Jimmy's a great kid, a great competitor," Lynch shared. "And competitors, they rise to the occasion when they're challenged. We brought Trey Lance in, and really, what it's done is Jimmy's playing his best ball since he's been with us, and Trey's been outstanding.
"So, we've got a good situation right now, and we'll just let it play out and feel very fortunate to have both those guys in our building."
