Lynch said Tuesday during an interview on KNBR that he expected some "good news on the horizon" regarding his impending contract extension while explaining why head coach Kyle Shanahan received his new deal first.
"Kyle was first in line because of a lot of semantics," Lynch said. "Frankly, I came in at a good number because I was making real good money at FOX, and Jed (York) and Kyle decided they wanted me, and I had a pretty good gig going, so it was going to take a lot to get me here. So I came in kind of top-of-market, or right there, and Kyle didn't. He was a first-time head coach.
"I understood that Kyle was going to go first, and Jed and Kyle got done. Then a pandemic breaks out. So we kind of put things on hold. I was fine with that. Like you said, I've got three years left, and I was compensated well."
RELATED
The 49ers signed Shanahan to a contract extension on June 15 but the deal was believed to have been done before April's draft. The coach's contract keeps him locked up through the 2025 season, one year longer than Lynch.
The hiring of Lynch, a former NFL safety, came as a shock to many since there were no reports of his candidacy for the vacant general manager job after the 49ers fired Trent Baalke. Lynch also had no previous front-office experience before signing with San Francisco.
Following his retirement as a player, Lynch entered the FOX broadcast booth as a color commentator for NFL games from 2008 through 2016.
RELATED
The 49ers officially hired Lynch on January 29, 2017, over a week before the team formally named Shanahan as its head coach. The two inherited one of the most talent-depleted rosters in the league.
Lynch and Shanahan kicked off their regime by losing nine consecutive games and winning just 10 games over the first two seasons. The 2019 season was different, however. San Francisco went 13-3 during the regular season, won the NFC West, and earned the best record in the NFC on the way to a Super Bowl LIV appearance against the Kansas City Chiefs.
49ers CEO Jed York in January expressed a desire to lock up both Lynch and Shanahan for the foreseeable future.
"I want those guys here for a long time," York told Bay Area News Group. "If they want to do something, I'd be happy to do it."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
John Lynch highlights silver lining in 49ers' disappointing season
The San Francisco 49ers' 2024 season hasn't gone as planned. Once filled with Super Bowl aspirations, the team sits at 6-9, eliminated from playoff contention, and is looking toward the offseason to address roster challenges. However, there is a silver lining. The 49ers'... -
49ers GM John Lynch breaks silence on sideline exchange with De'Vondre Campbell
San Francisco 49ers linebacker De'Vondre Campbell left for the locker room during the third quarter of last week's game against the Los Angeles Rams after refusing to enter the game. Reportedly upset over losing his starting role to Dre Greenlaw, who had just returned from... -
John Lynch: 49ers remain confident in Brock Purdy, aim for strong finish
There has been widespread discussion surrounding Brock Purdy as the San Francisco 49ers gear up to begin contract extension negotiations with their 24-year-old quarterback. Purdy's 2024 campaign hasn't matched the record-breaking numbers he posted last year when he set a... -
John Lynch confident in 49ers' offseason plan: "We'll fix it"
The San Francisco 49ers are grappling with the disappointment of a season that fell far short of their lofty expectations. After coming close to a Super Bowl victory last year, the team now finds itself out of playoff contention, sitting at 6-9 with just two games left in the...