5 most successful general managers in 49ers history

The 49ers have had some legendary head coaches, but plenty of the franchise’s success has stemmed from some notable general managers, too.

It’s not too hard to find the great eras in San Francisco 49ers lore.

And when fans look back at the success the five-time Super Bowl champions have had dating back to the team’s inception in 1946, it’s often the players and head coaches who receive the bulk of the credit.

Often lost in the mix is the job the Niners’ general managers have done to help create rosters that are capable of achieving that success.

Sure, San Francisco has gone through plenty of hard times, too, and calling out general managers for shoddy work during these stretches is easier than giving credit when it’s due (see former 49ers GM Trent Baalke as a prime example), but it’s certainly worth looking at each one of the Niners’ executives over the years and breaking down the five best out of the 11 who have held the position over the team’s history.

And, no, Baalke won’t make his way onto this list.

49ers top general manager No. 5: John Lynch (2017-current)

San Francisco went with something of a surprise pick amid the post-Baalke era early in 2017, grabbing former NFL safety turned Fox television analyst John Lynch to pair with then first-year head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Sure, Lynch might be more of a media personality, and there are thoughts he defers the actual scouting and negotiations with players to other assistants.

And while Lynch’s first NFL Draft that year didn’t quite net the most desirable first-round results (see defensive end Solomon Thomas and linebacker Reuben Foster), it’s nevertheless important to recognize the success Lynch has had in turning what was previously a two-win team into a championship contender two full years later.

From 2017 through 2021, the 49ers still have a regular-season losing record of 39-42. Yet it’s fair to admit the first two years were part of a total rebuild, and boasting one trip to the Super Bowl and another trip to the NFC Championship game as highly successful.

Expect Lynch to climb the rankings of this list if that kind of success continues to pour in.