Tag: Lynch

Jan 11, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (71) walks off the field after win against the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFC Wild Card Round game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

John Lynch: 49ers on ‘right track’ with Trent Williams contract

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch adopted a noticeably more hopeful tone Tuesday regarding Trent Williams than what reports of a possible split indicated, saying the sides are making progress in contract talks at the scouting combine.

“I think we’re on the right track,” Lynch said after what he described as “good and productive” meetings with Williams’ agent, Vincent Taylor. Lynch added: “Trent loves being a Niner. We love having Trent as a Niner. And it’s up to us to figure that out and to thread that needle. There are some unique circumstances.

“I think we’re all on the same page and feel very positive about where it’s going.”

The timing matters. Williams is entering the last year of his current deal and is set to carry a massive 2026 cap number of $38.8 million, with a $10 million option bonus due April 1.

San Francisco has obvious motivation to lower that cap figure, but it also has little margin for error at left tackle. Williams, who turns 38 in July, played 16 games in 2025, returned for the playoffs after a late-season hamstring injury and remained one of the anchors of the offense.

Williams, a three-time first-team All-Pro selection, is entering his seventh season with the Niners after beginning his career with Washington (2010-2019).

Lynch also said the 49ers will wait until the new league year begins before making any move on wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, leaving open at least the possibility of a trade.

–Field Level Media

Niners GM: ‘Safe to say’ Brandon Aiyuk won’t be back

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San Francisco general manager John Lynch does not expect embattled wideout Brandon Aiyuk to return to the 49ers, declaring Wednesday that “it’s safe to say that he’s played his last snap with the Niners.”

Aiyuk, 27, missed the entire 2025 season after tearing his ACL and MCL in October of 2024.

He was initially expected to return this October but by November, The Athletic reported he had missed multiple team meetings and displayed a “lack of communication” that led the 49ers to void the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s 2026 contract, calling his absences a failure to fulfill his contractual obligations.

Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million deal before the 2024 season. By voiding future guarantees, San Francisco can recover a 2026 option bonus of $24.935 million, $1.215 million in base salary for 2026, a $100,000 workout bonus and roster bonuses of $750,000 per game, according to The Athletic.

“The plan in terms of the transaction that will come in due time,” Lynch said at his season-ending press conference on Wednesday, four days after the 49ers were dismantled 41-6 by the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round of the playoffs.

San Francisco would incur a dead-cap hit of $29.6 million if Aiyuk were either traded or released, with that money spread over two seasons if he were designated as a post-June 1 release.

“It’s unfortunate. You know, a situation that just went awry,” Lynch said. “I will look long and hard at what could have been done differently but sometimes it just doesn’t work out, and I think that this was a case where that happened.”

Aiyuk posted 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns over seven games in 2024 after developing into a star over the previous two campaigns.

He caught a career-high 78 passes for 1,015 yards and a career-best eight TDs in 2022, and hauled in 75 catches for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023.

Drafted in the first round (25th overall) in 2020, Aiyuk has 294 receptions for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs in 69 games (67 starts) with the 49ers.

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

John Lynch: 49ers’ Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk getting closer

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s season to date has largely been derailed by a toe injury.

He sustained the injury in Week 1, returned in Week 4 but has missed the last three games after dealing with a setback in his recovery.

Real details about a possible timeline for return to action for Purdy, who returned to practice in a limited capacity Oct. 15 and remained limited at Wednesday’s practice, have been scarce.

In a radio interview Thursday with local station KNBR, 49ers GM John Lynch made it clear that Purdy is getting closer to a return.

“What I can tell everyone is that we’re being (incredibly diligent),” Lynch said. “We’ve gotten so many opinions on this thing, and it’s been pretty consistent. He’s doing a really good job. We’re taking the appropriate measures, and what I can tell you is he gets better each week, each day. I do think we’re getting closer to him returning.”

Still, no firm timetable has been established for Purdy’s return.

“A hard timeline (is difficult to set) because it’s kind of a feel thing,” Lynch added. “And how he feels, that’s still out there and TBD, but we’re getting closer, we do know that. I think this week, in particular, last week, I think we made some progress. And so, that has Brock encouraged. It has everyone encouraged.

“We’re trusting Brock, we’re trusting the doctors. We’ll make a good decision on it, and that’s why it’s taken some time.”

Lynch also provided an update on receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who hasn’t played this season after tearing his ACL and MCL last October. Like with Purdy, Lynch is optimistic about his potential to return as he is just past the one-year mark from when he sustained the injuries.

“Oh, yeah, there’s hope he plays,” Lynch said of Aiyuk. “There’s, more importantly than hope, there’s some evidence. He’s making really good progress. He’s been putting in the time, and I think that it’s coming nearer as to when he’s going to be out there.”

San Francisco has kept winning in spite of being without Purdy, Aiyuk and a host of other important players on both sides of the ball.

The 49ers (5-2) are in a three-way tie atop the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams heading into Sunday’s road game with the Houston Texans (2-4).

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) walks on the field before the start of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

49ers say WR Brandon Aiyuk (knee) ‘not close’ to return

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is “not close” to returning from the physically unable to perform list, general manager John Lynch said Thursday.

The club originally had targeted a Week 6 return for the 27-year-old veteran, who still is rehabbing a torn right ACL sustained last October.

Lynch said there have been no setbacks, explaining it is taking longer than expected because his tear wasn’t “clean” and there was other damage in the knee.

Aiyuk posted 25 receptions for 374 yards and no touchdowns over seven games last season after developing into a star over the previous two campaigns.

He caught a career-high 78 passes for 1,015 yards and a career-best eight TDs in 2022, and hauled in 75 catches for a career-high 1,342 yards in 2023.

Drafted in the first round (25th overall) in 2020, Aiyuk has recorded 294 receptions for 4,305 yards and 25 TDs in 69 games (67 starts) with the 49ers.

–Field Level Media

Dec 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) during the game against the Detroit Lions at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

49ers GM optimistic Brock Purdy contract can be done in April

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Signing Brock Purdy to a long-term contract extension by mid-April is a reasonable goal, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said Monday at the NFL annual spring meeting in Florida.

“Brock wants to be with us,” Lynch said. “We want Brock to be with us.”

Purdy, 25, has taken the 49ers to the playoffs twice in three seasons, finishing his rookie year with a loss — and an elbow injury — in the 2023 NFC Championship game before piloting San Francisco to the Super Bowl in his second season.

After San Francisco missed the playoffs and posted a 6-11 record in 2024, Purdy enters the final year of his rookie contract with both sides stating their interest in completing a deal likely to bring the 2022 seventh-round pick a raise equal to about 10 times his current base salary. Because of his on-field performance, his pay for next season is up from $985,000 in 2024 to $5.346 million in 2025.

Purdy said at the end of the season he hoped for a no-drama negotiation that would be wrapped up before training camp. Lynch suggested a deal could reasonably be finished before the draft.

“I don’t think it’s too optimistic,” Lynch said of signing Purdy in the next month. “I think I understand why Brock wants that, and we’d like that, very much so. We just got to find that right place for both sides and I would love nothing more than for that to be the case.”

Lynch said he knows there are no guarantees in contract negotiations but has no plan to delay contract talks because of Purdy’s modest salary.

“I think we are going to get the deal done,” Lynch said. “That’s what I believe, so I’ll just leave it at that.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (left) hands off to wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (right) during the second quarter against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

‘Time happens’ as 49ers dial up Deebo trade, talk money with QB Brock Purdy

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INDIANAPOLIS — Time off is great, but 49ers general manager John Lynch would prefer not to start vacation mode in January again.

From the Super Bowl to missing the playoffs, San Francisco had more time than usual to plot a strategy for the upcoming offseason after finishing the 2024 season with a 6-11 record. The 49ers last finished with fewer than 10 wins in a season in 2020 (6-10).

“We need to get younger,” Lynch said Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

In 2020, that meant reloading the defensive line — defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw was the 14th overall pick — and selecting wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk with a second first-round pick. They also drafted wide receiver Jauan Jennings in the seventh round.

As the 49ers angle for a fresh start, wide receiver Deebo Samuel asked for one of his own. Lynch confirmed Wednesday action has been hot and heavy with multiple teams interested in acquiring Samuel, a player All-Pro tight end George Kittle has said cannot be replaced.

“The financial restraints and some conversations we’ve had with Deebo — we’re on good terms with Deebo. He’s asked for a fresh start and I think we’re going to honor that. Don’t like seeing great players — and he is a great player. I think often, one of my favorite draft picks in my time, he makes plays. He makes game-changing plays. Everything’s good. At some point, time happens. It probably makes sense. So we’re at least allowing him to look.”

The 49ers did the same with Aiyuk last summer with a contract holdout reaching a stalemate before negotiating a four-year, $120 million contract that signaled Samuel’s time could be up.

He turned 29 in January and the 2019 second-round pick hits the market after a 51-catch season, his lowest production in a full season over his six years in San Francisco. Samuel had 33 catches in 2020, when he was limited to seven games because of a broken foot.

Lynch said the 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy “started negotiations” but there’s no guarantees the two sides get a deal done before the 2025 regular season.

“I won’t go into negotiations like always is our stance. We want Brock to be our quarterback as long as we’re here and beyond and we’ll leave it at that,” Lynch said. “My experience has been when both sides are motivated, there’s ample opportunity to do so.”

The final pick of the 2022 draft, Purdy enters the final season of his rookie contract with a base salary of $5.265 million thanks to a proven performance escalator in all NFL rookie contracts. His original four-year deal included a total salary of $3.74 million. Purdy turned 25 in December and has a 27-15 record, including 4-2 in the playoffs, with the 49ers.

Lynch said Purdy should have his left tackle of choice, Trent Williams, in front of him again in 2025. Williams turns 37 in July and missed the final seven games last season with an ankle injury.

“He’s playing,” Lynch said of the four-time All-Pro. “I think he’s really motivated to come back. When you’re a player that has experience playing at those heights, you don’t want to play unless you’re playing at that level, and I think that’s where Trent’s at. … I think we’re going to see a real motivated Trent Williams to come back and have a great year, and that’s a good thing for us.”

Running back Christian McCaffrey ended the season on IR with a posterior cruciate ligament knee injury and was sidelined early in the season with calf and Achilles issues. The NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2023, McCaffrey had 21 total TDs and over 2,100 yards from scrimmage two seasons ago.

Lynch said McCaffrey should be ready to roll to start the 2025 season. Meanwhile, the 49ers will consider ways to prevent him from trying to do too much too soon.

“Christian’s doing really well,” he said. “And I think (he) was real frustrated with the way last season went. And doing everything that is possible, as he did in preparation for last year. And we’re hoping Christian McCaffrey is out there and going to have a tremendous year. If he’s healthy, he will have a tremendous year. That’s just what he does.”

–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2021; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan (left) and general manager John Lynch during training camp at the SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Unamused 49ers GM: Cool it with Kyle Shanahan ‘hot seat’ talk

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Seven losses in a season is unfamiliar territory for the San Francisco 49ers.

With two Super Bowl appearances in five seasons, general manager John Lynch openly admits the 49ers haven’t earned the right to be called “as good” as the 2023 NFC championship group.

San Francisco is 5-7 but only two games behind NFC West-leading Seattle with five games remaining as the Chicago Bears (4-8) arrive Sunday.

“I’ve found the whole discussion on Kyle rather comical,” Lynch said in an interview Friday with KNBR in San Francisco. “We have won four of the last five division championships. We’ve been to two Super Bowls. The standard here is to win championships, and we’ve fallen short of that, I understand.

“But we have an excellent head coach, and the fact that people are talking about stuff like that, I do find it comical. We’re 100 percent behind Kyle and what he brings to our organization. Like I said, our focus is really on the Bears and doing everything we can. That’s where Kyle’s focus is, and that’s where all our focus is.”

San Francisco lost 35-10 in the snow at Buffalo last Sunday night and the 49ers placed their top two running backs on injured reserve due to injuries in that game. Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Jordan Mason (ankle) could return for Week 18 at Arizona if the 49ers are still fighting for a playoff spot.

In a top-down ranking of NFC teams by record and playoff position, the 49ers are No. 11 entering Week 14.

“You are what your record says you are in this league, and that isn’t very good. So I think we’ve been through a lot as a team, this current team with a lot of stuff that has happened to members of our organization. Injuries, tragic circumstances, ultimately those are just excuses. One thing I can tell you is I’m proud of how this group has stuck together, had each other’s back. The other thing I can tell you is the story’s not written yet. We’re still grinding, and we’re still playing.”

The 49ers last missed the postseason in 2020 with a record of 6-10 that followed an appearance in the Super Bowl — San Francisco’s first title game loss of two to the Kansas City Chiefs.

San Francisco’s upcoming schedule after Sunday includes a short week before playing the division rival Rams on Thursday, at Miami (Dec. 22), a Monday night matchup with the Detroit Lions on Dec. 30 and the finale against the Cardinals.

–Field Level Media

Sep 9, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) watches injured from the sidelines in the second quarter against the New York Jets at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Niners GM says Christian McCaffrey ‘doing incredibly well’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said star running back Christian McCaffrey continues to make progress but there is still no timeline for his season debut.

McCaffrey, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, is dealing with Achilles tendinitis in both legs and has been on injured reserve since Sept. 14.

“No new updates other than he’s doing incredibly well,” Lynch told KNBR on Friday morning. “It’s all about the ramp up, increasing the activity, making sure that there’s no setbacks. I could just tell people he’s on a good track with that. No timelines or anything, but he’s doing a little bit more — not each day. We kind of stagger it, work hard one day, kind of go into more of a (regeneration) day the next day.

“But when you can start to stack those and not have setbacks, that’s a good thing, and that’s kind of the direction he’s trending in.”

Earlier reports indicated that McCaffrey, 28, would not be ready to return until late November or early December.

A three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro, McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards and 2,023 yards from scrimmage last season. He has four 1,000-yard rushing seasons and two 100-catch campaigns in 91 games (84 starts) for the Carolina Panthers (2017-22) and 49ers.

In his absence, Jordan Mason leads the 49ers (3-3) and ranks second in the NFL with 609 rushing yards through six games (five starts).

–Field Level Media

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) runs with the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs LVIII between Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Bills, Patriots bidding on 49ers WR Deebo Samuel

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Trade offers for wide receiver Deebo Samuel could fetch the San Francisco 49ers a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, according to multiple reports.

The two teams at the center of the bidding prior to the start of the second round of the 2024 draft on Friday were AFC East rivals Buffalo and New England, NFL Network and The Athletic reported.

NFL Network reported the Patriots and 49ers engaged in conversations around Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk during the NFL Scouting Combine, but compensation was a sticking point.

The Bills traded No. 1 wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans earlier this month and traded back twice on Thursday. Buffalo holds the No. 33 pick in the draft Friday.

49ers general manager John Lynch said on Wednesday that he “wouldn’t anticipate” a scenario in which the team would trade Aiyuk, who is looking for a long-term deal from San Francisco.

Whether Samuel could be available after Lynch used the 49ers’ first-round selection on Florida wide receiver Ricky Pearsall — a former Aiyuk teammate in 2019 before transferring to the Gators from Arizona State.

Lynch called Samuel “a part of this team, and a big part of this team” on Thursday night after the pick. Head coach Kyle Shanahan went further, saying trade talks took place when teams called but trading a wide receiver “doesn’t seem that likely to be honest. But I’m still on the table. If someone offered [owner] Jed [York] and John good stuff for me, I’m going to be out of here.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) runs with the ball as Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid (20) defends during the first quarter of Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

49ers GM John Lynch expects WR Brandon Aiyuk to stay long-term

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With the price of doing business with No. 1 wide receivers on the rise in the NFL, 49ers general manager John Lynch reiterated his position on paying Brandon Aiyuk in the near future.

“Our wish is he’s here and part of the Niners for the rest of his career,” Lynch said in a pre-draft press conference on Monday. “We’re focused on B.A. being part of us.”

Aiyuk isn’t attending voluntary workouts and Lynch said there have been calls from general managers about the availability of Aiyuk and others. For now, the 49ers “wouldn’t anticipate” a move this week involving Aiyuk being traded to a new team.

When the sides will engage again on contract negotiations is unclear.

The 25-year-old Aiyuk was named second-team All-Pro in 2023 and is due $14.1 million in 2024, the fifth-year option on his rookie deal with free agency coming up next March.

The 49ers traded up to draft Aiyuk 25th overall in 2020 and he has 15 total touchdowns the past two seasons. He had 75 receptions for 1,342 yards with seven touchdowns in 2023.

San Francisco has committed top dollar to key playmakers from wide receiver Deebo Samuel to running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle, with a massive deal coming quarterback Brock Purdy’s way soon, too.

By this time next year, Purdy could be cashing more than $50 million per season based on the current QB contract market.

That creates questions about whether one of those playmakers — or Aiyuk — might have to relocate for the 49ers to maintain financial harmony.

Samuel is scheduled to make $20.97 million in 2024 and Kittle’s base salary is scheduled to increase from $1.080 million last season to over $13 million.

–Field Level Media