49ers GM Lynch says he’ll attack new role like Elway

49ers GM Lynch says he’ll attack new role like Elway

[...] the 49ers’ just-hired general manager has spent the past 23 years in the NFL flourishing as a player and broadcaster, but he hasn’t worked in management.

During the course of a 25-minute introductory conference call Monday, the neophyte executive might have swayed some of his skeptics as he detailed his history of overcoming odds and his relationship with one of his closest friends, Denver general manager John Elway.

The Broncos have a 67-29 record and a Super Bowl title since Elway took the job in 2011 despite having no NFL front-office experience.

Lynch spent much of the 2013 offseason with Elway, a fellow Stanford grad who invited him to the prospect combine and into the Broncos’ draft room.

Elway did prepare by spending six seasons as the GM of an Arena Football League team.

Lynch admitted he “never thought he’d be doing this” two weeks ago, but a conversation with Shanahan prompted his job switch.

At some point after Lynch covered the Falcons’ divisional-playoff win over the Seahawks as a Fox analyst Jan. 14, he spoke on the phone with Shanahan.

The 49ers met with Lynch and two other candidates, Minnesota assistant general manager George Paton and Arizona vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough, in Atlanta last weekend before hiring Lynch.

Lynch expressed his appreciation for the scouts and executives who have been preparing for the draft and free agency since head coach Chip Kelly and general manager Trent Baalke were fired Jan. 1.

Lynch said he’d be a fool not to learn from executive Tom Gamble, the 49ers’ assistant GM in 2016, while also making it clear he would be adding to the personnel department.

The 49ers reportedly will interview Denver director of college scouting Adam Peters, a Cupertino native, for a top personnel position.

In 1993, he was a third-round pick of the Buccaneers, and he didn’t become a full-time starter at safety until his fourth season in the NFL.

[...] he finished his 15-year career with nine Pro Bowl berths and is a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist who will learn Saturday whether he’ll enter the shrine in Canton, Ohio.

Earned nine Pro Bowl berths in 15 seasons spent with the Buccaneers (1993-2003) and Broncos (2004-07); won Super Bowl in 2002 season; one of 15 modern-era Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists.