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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch may not have to worry about his job status, regardless of how this year’s draft class ultimately turns out.
While hosting the Rich Eisen Show, NFL insider Tom Pelissero was asked if the 49ers' 2026 draft class doesn't work out, should Lynch be fired?
Pelissero went so far as to say not only would Lynch's job be safe, but so would head coach Kyle Shanahan.
“I don’t see a world where John Lynch ever gets fired by the 49ers. Same thing with Kyle Shanahan," Pelissero said. "They have stabilized that franchise. If you remember how things were for several years before they got there, it was a constant churn. It was the end of the Jim Harbaugh era, which became the Jim Tomsula era, which became the Chip Kelly era. The 49ers are competitive year after year. They certainly, I think it’s fair to say, have supplemented a lot through trades and at times, through free agency because they’ve had some misses in the draft.”
49ers draft struggles stand out in strong run
While the 49ers have had sustained success during the Lynch- Shanahan era, they have yet to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
The general manager and head coach duo will soon enter their 10th season together. The two were hired prior to the 2017 season and restored the 49ers in a big way.
San Francisco has had two Super Bowl appearances in that span and has come away empty-handed. Over that same stretch, they've also made the playoffs in five of the past nine seasons.
The 49ers have constructed elite rosters in that span, but what has plagued them is their premium draft capital results, which have been inconsistent.
Lynch and Shanahan have had several key misses and underwhelming returns relative to draft positions. The biggest example of that is quarterback Trey Lance in 2021.
The 49ers have had some big whiffs in the early parts of the draft, but with sustained success under the Lynch and Shanahan regime, it's safe to say their jobs aren't in jeopardy despite their draft flaws.
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