49ers news: Hiring of Anthony Lynn is a masterstroke

Hiring Anthony Lynn as a head assistant coach is the most important signing the 49ers could make, as they enter the Trey Lance era in 2022. 

The season may not have been over very long for the San Francisco 49ers, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news of a major signing for the team which could have huge ramifications down the line.

A day before the Niners ultimately lost offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to the Miami Dolphins‘ head-coaching vacancy, Schefter reported San Francisco was bringing aboard former Los Angeles Chargers head coach and Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn to the staff.

Lynn was initially announced as the 49ers’ next assistant head coach:

While the signing of an assistant coach is usually only warranting a quick and cursory glance at best for the average fan, it’s when you look deeper like Schefter did that you start to see the importance behind the 49ers hiring Lynn:

"Lynn’s offenses and backfields have produced as some of the highest rushing totals in the league over the past decade. He helped Tyrod Taylor field one of the league’s top 10 offenses jn Buffalo, and molded an offense in which Justin Herbert won rookie of the year."

49ers will benefit a ton from hiring Anthony Lynn

The hiring of Lynn is an absolute masterstroke for the team. The development of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was faster and more meteoric than anyone could have dreamed of under the tutelage of Lynn, and the Chargers have a franchise quarterback now for at least the next decade.

49ers quarterback Trey Lance holds a few similarities to Herbert coming out of college. Both were considered exceptionally raw quarterbacks who would require coaching but had the physical tools necessary to be the future for whichever team drafted them.

Lance had a mixed rookie season in the limited amount of times he was on the field, but he showed definite improvement down the line.

But while this past season he was allowed to mostly sit on the bench and be coached up, this upcoming season will be different.

Lance won’t be the future, he’ll be the present.

The only other consideration that might be given is if veteran signal-caller Tyrod Taylor, one of the top backup quarterbacks in the league who did his best work with Lynn, will follow his old coach to be the backup for San Francisco. The team very well could decide to protect its top investment in 2021 from going onto the field too soon if he isn’t ready and instead let Taylor be the spot starter.

Read More: 5 quarterbacks 49ers can sign to back up Trey Lance

But that’s idle speculation. What is definite is Lynn will be on the coaching staff for the 49ers going forward.

There wasn’t a better hire the team could make to develop Lance.

Between the brains of Lynn and head coach Kyle Shanahan, Lance has the best possible chance around him to succeed. Consider the talented offensive line, top-tier rushing attack and the multiple receiving options he has around him.

San Francisco has left nothing to chance. The offseason may not have officially begun yet, but the 49ers have made the best signing they’ll make for the entire period.