John Lynch is Headed to the Hall of Fame!
On Saturday, Lynch received football's highest individual honor, as he was chosen to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2021. His formal induction into the Hall of Fame next summer will celebrate a storied 15-year playing career that included nine Pro Bowl selections, four Associated Press All-Pro awards, a Super Bowl championship and inclusion in the Rings of Honor of two different NFL franchises. Lynch was also known as one of the hardest hitters in NFL history. .
Eighth time's a charm for San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch. After years of reaching the final step in the selection process, Lynch's name now adds to the exclusive list of former players, coaches and executives to receive pro football's highest honor. On Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its inductees into its Class of 2021. Hall of Fame president David Baker revealed the news to Lynch and family in a surprise visit to his San Diego home.
Lynch, who has been a finalist every year since 2014, had to wait a little longer than most who have made the Hall but the timing of his selection couldn't have been more perfect. Lynch began his playing career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1993 and he was back in his first NFL home to attend Super Bowl LV, which was held at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday. He received a very warm welcome from the home crowd at Sunday's game when he was announced on the field along with the other inductees.
San Francisco's general manager constructed one of the all-time great NFL careers while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993-2003) and Denver Broncos (2004-07). Lynch appeared in 224 games (191 starts) and registered 1,059 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 26 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and 100 passes defended. Known for his hard-hitting prowess, the safety was credited with 90-or-more tackles in a season nine times throughout his 15-year NFL career. Lynch was voted to nine Pro Bowls and earned All-Pro recognition for three-consecutive years between 1999-2001. He was an integral part of the Buccaneers championship season that earned the franchise's first Super Bowl title in 2002.
After spending 10 years in the booth as a FOX analyst following his retirement from the league in 2008, Lynch was hired as the 49ers general manager in February of 2017. After inheriting a 2-14 team, Lynch helped construct San Francisco's title-contending roster just three seasons later. He's credited with the acquisition of San Francisco's key later-round stars in George Kittle (fifth-round) and Fred Warner (third-round) among others.
The Modern-Era Player Inductees were determined by a vote of the hall's Selection Committee from a list of 130 nominees named in September. The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2021 will be enshrined Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021 in Canton, Ohio.