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NFL

As Kyle Shanahan draws closer to 49ers, keeping Super Bowl focus still the plan

HOUSTON — As the Atlanta Falcons arrived in Houston for Super Bowl LI, the biggest NFL news of the day had little to do with their matchup against the New England Patriots.

It had everything to do with a key component of the Falcons’ success.

Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan moved yet another step closer to becoming the head coach in San Francisco as the 49ers announced former NFL safety and Fox analyst John Lynch as the new general manager. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Lynch, with no front-office experience, called Shanahan, volunteered for the job, and now has a six-year contract to show for it. Lynch played for Shanahan’s father, Mike, in Denver.

The younger Shanahan is set for a six-year deal, too — and plenty of power — as soon as the Super Bowl concludes. He went through a second interview with the 49ers this past weekend.

Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan is focused on finding a way to beat the Patriots, not on where he’ll be coaching next season. Curtis Compton/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP

Throughout the process, Shanahan and Falcons coach Dan Quinn have insisted Shanahan’s head-coaching developments would not be a distraction to the team’s playoff goals. Such has been the case through the first two postseason games, as Shanahan’s offense put up 36 and 44 points, respectively, in a divisional playoff win over Seattle and an NFC Championship Game victory over Green Bay.

There will be plenty of talk this week regarding Shanahan’s imminent departure and his potential replacements, so the topic of it being a distraction is sure to resurface. Plus, Shanahan himself shouldered a heavier burden when he spoke about the challenge that awaits Sunday against the New England Patriots, who boasted the league’s top scoring defense in allowing just 15.6 points per game. The Falcons had the league’s highest-scoring offense at 33.8 points per contest.

“It’s the best defense that we’ve seen in the NFL this year,” Shanahan said last week. “The numbers show it. And watch the film and you see exactly why their numbers are the way they are. They are extremely tough to score against. That’s why they’re No. 1 in the NFL. I believe only one game this year someone scored 30 points [against them].

“They have very good players all around, players that are interchangeable that can be pass-rushers, that can be linebackers, that can be corners, that can be safeties. And they have an extremely good scheme. So, it’s by far the biggest challenge we’ve had this year.”

The Falcons have shown the ability to score on anyone, hitting the 40-point mark six times, including the playoffs. Shanahan’s playcalling helped paved the way for an MVP season for quarterback Matt Ryan. And Ryan’s establishing an NFL first by completing touchdown passes to 13 different receivers proved how difficult Shanahan’s offense is to defend.

Now it’s up to Shanahan to come up with a masterful way to move the ball down the field against the Patriots. He has kept his focus on that up to this point.

NFL

John Lynch's surprising hire demands patience … and plenty of scrutiny

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Jaws are still being picked up off the floor in the Bay Area on Monday morning after the San Francisco 49ers’ stunning, out-of-left-field decision to hire former NFL safety John Lynch as general manager on Sunday evening.

As soon as the initial shock of a 2-14 team hiring a general manager with zero experience evaluating and acquiring talent subsides, there’s plenty left to unpack, much of which will focus on just how unqualified Lynch is for the job compared with the other nine candidates the team interviewed throughout a process that started nearly a month ago.

Hiring Lynch out of the Fox booth sent shock waves through the league, immediately drawing comparisons to the failed experiment the Detroit Lions conducted with Matt Millen, the most recent example of a broadcaster turned team-builder. Millen was in charge of the Lions from 2001 to 2007, with Detroit compiling a 31-81 record before he lost his power and, eventually, his job in the 2008 season.

That doesn’t mean Lynch isn’t capable of stepping in and getting the job done. Lynch was a winning, successful player in his career and he understands what it takes to succeed at the league’s highest level. Former players such as John Elway in Denver and Ozzie Newsome in Baltimore have gone on to successful careers as executives, though it’s worth noting that both had experience in talent evaluation (Elway in the Arena League, Newsome through the Ravens organization) before they became the chief decision-maker.

The 49ers are hiring Hall of Fame candidate and Fox analyst John Lynch to be their new general manager. AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

But while the likes of Elway and Newsome gained their experience in other positions, the Niners are asking Lynch to learn on the job. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported that the team gave Lynch a six-year deal, which is unprecedented, especially for a first-time general manager. While that could be a sign that the Niners simply couldn’t land any of their other candidates and hired Lynch because he was the one willing to say yes, it’s also an indication the team is finally willing to be patient with a new regime.

Presumptive next coach Kyle Shanahan, who can’t be hired until after the Atlanta Falcons play in the Super Bowl but gave his blessing to the Lynch hire, will get the same contract terms as Lynch. From the outset of this process, Niners CEO Jed York made it clear he wanted a general manager and coach who could be on the same page. York didn’t box himself into the idea of hiring a coach then a general manager — or vice versa — but once it became clear that Shanahan was the priority, the goal then became to find a general manager who could work well with Shanahan.

“We need to make sure that the head coach and the general manager know each other, have a good understanding for each other,” York said on Jan. 1. “It doesn’t mean that they had to have worked together in the past but they have to have a good respect for each other and a good understanding and know that they have similar visions and philosophies on building a football team.”

With Shanahan apparently signing off on Lynch — Lynch played for Shanahan’s father, Mike, in Denver — there’s little doubt he will wield the ultimate personnel hammer, assuming he does indeed become the next head coach. But Shanahan has never been a head coach either, meaning the Niners are pinning their hopes of a full-on rebuild on two people who have never overseen such a project.

So while the Niners seem to be set on their two biggest hires in Shanahan and Lynch, the people who surround the pair will be just as, if not more important in helping to shape the future of the organization.

This is a roster that didn’t have a single Pro Bowler in 2016, has little in the way of clear-cut building blocks and could soon have zero quarterbacks under contract for 2017. Although the 49ers are going to have more than $80 million in salary-cap space and the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, there were no miracle workers for either job who figured to come in and offer an immediate turnaround.

By burning through three coaches in as many seasons, York created a situation in which he had to try to convince top candidates to fill the openings, instead of having the ability to pick from the best options available. It’s a point driven home by the fact that the Niners didn’t hire any of the nine executives they interviewed despite spending all but one week of the past month with the only general manager job available, and by the length of contracts they intend to give Lynch and Shanahan.

Only time will tell if the Niners’ big gamble will pay off. Fortunately for Lynch and Shanahan, time is something they’ll have plenty of to lead a once-proud franchise in a new direction.

NFL

Chiefs' Ballard will replace Grigson as Colts GM

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have named Chris Ballard their new general manager, the team announced Sunday.

Ballard replaces Ryan Grigson, who was fired Jan. 21 after five seasons with the organization.

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“Chris has a solid reputation throughout the National Football League as a heavyweight executive and our extensive discussions with him confirmed that reputation,” Irsay said in a statement released by the team. “He’s a savvy, organized, and thorough talent evaluator, but beyond that, he’s a terrific person our community will be proud of.”

Ballard joined the Kansas City Chiefs as director of player personnel in 2013 and was later promoted to director of football operations. The Chiefs have been a balanced team that won at least nine games in each of those four seasons, and all three first-round draft picks in that span have been significant contributors. The Chiefs were the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs this season.

Ballard interviewed for general manager jobs with Tennessee and Chicago in recent years.

“I am so thankful to Mr. Irsay and his entire family for this opportunity to join the Colts organization,” Ballard said. “I appreciate everyone who has been involved in the search process. I look forward to working with [coach] Chuck [Pagano] and his staff, the personnel staff and all the outstanding Colts employees.

Ballard is set at quarterback with Andrew Luck and has talented skill position players such as receivers T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief. His first order of business will be to improve a defense that finished 30th overall in the NFL and tied for 19th in sacks with just 33.

The Colts, who will have more than $50 million in salary-cap space during free agency, are coming off back-to-back seasons in which they missed the playoffs with 8-8 records.

Irsay said Jan. 21 that Pagano will return as coach for the 2017 season.

“I am extremely excited about Chris coming in as our general manager,” Pagano said. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and a ton of experience to the organization. I’m looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and going to work alongside him.”

Ballard beat Jimmy Raye III of the Colts, Scott Fitterer and Trent Kirchner of Seattle, George Paton of Minnesota and Eliot Wolf of Green Bay for the job.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

NFL

Tillman's widow disappointed in immigration ban

The widow of Pat Tillman has expressed disappointment over President Donald Trump after the administration imposed a temporary ban on travel to the United States from seven majority Muslim countries.

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Marie Tillman posted a message on Facebook saying she was saddened by the executive order, adding that this was “not the country he dreamed of, not what he served for and not what he died for.”

Tillman left a multimillion-dollar NFL contract with the Arizona Cardinals at age 25 to join the Army, eight months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

He was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.

Marie Tillman has carried on his name and spirit through the Pat Tillman Foundation, which provides scholarships to military personnel and their families.

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