John Lynch
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch watches his team warm up before the NFL Super Bowl 54 football against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
49ers tune out criticism following Super Bowl collapse

By Josh Dubow Feb. 06, 2020 03:47 PM EST

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan speaks during a news conference after the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Shanahan should have heeded Belichick's Fangio blueprint

Arnie Stapleton Feb. 04, 2020 02:41 AM EST

A Miami-Dade police officer patrols outside of the Hard Rock Stadium before the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs 2/2/2020

Feb. 02, 2020 02:50 PM EST

Hall of Fame Class of 2020, stand on stage at the NFL Honors football award show Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Safeties first: Polamalu, Atwater heading to Hall of Fame

By Eddie Pells Feb. 01, 2020 06:02 PM EST

San Francisco 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo puts a football hairband during Opening Night for the NFL Super Bowl 54 football game Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at Marlins Park in Miami. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Garoppolo takes lessons from Brady into 1st Super Bowl start

By Josh Dubow Jan. 28, 2020 04:58 PM EST

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) celebrates a win in the NFL NFC Championship football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers defeated the Packers 37-20. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Trades play big role in building of Super Bowl-bound 49ers

By Josh Dubow Jan. 24, 2020 05:15 PM EST

San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) leaps over the goal line for a touchdown during the NFL NFC Championship football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, Calif. The 49ers defeated the Packers 37-20 (Margaret Bowles via AP)
49ers impressive turnaround leads to Super Bowl appearance

By Josh Dubow Jan. 20, 2020 07:28 PM EST

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) celebrates after converting a first down against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of the NFL NFC Championship football game Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
After cashing in on QB gambles, Niners, Chiefs in Super Bowl

By Eddie Pells Jan. 19, 2020 10:09 PM EST

A San Francisco 49ers fan wears a mask of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo while tailgating at Levi's Stadium before the NFL NFC Championship football game between the 49ers and the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers 1/19/2020

Jan. 19, 2020 04:05 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 12, 2014, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu watches from the bench in the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Brownsin Cleveland. First-time eligibles Reggie Wayne and Polamalu are among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's modern-day 2020 class. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Wayne, Polamalu finalists for HOF 2020 in 1st year eligible

By Barry Wilner Jan. 02, 2020 07:04 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2009, file photo, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne, right, reaches out while attempting a catch under the defense of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Derek Cox in the second half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis. Safety Troy Polamalu, wide receiver Reggie Wayne and linebacker Patrick Willis are first-year eligible players among the 25 semifinalists of the modern era for the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2019. (AP Photo/AJ Mast, File)
Polamalu, Wayne, Willis 1st year eligible for Hall of Fame

By Barry Wilner Nov. 26, 2019 01:03 PM EST

FILE - In this Nov. 11, 2018, file photo, Washington Redskins offensive tackle Trent Williams stands on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla. A person with knowledge of the situation says Williams has reported to the Redskins, ending his holdout. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, because the team had not announced Williams’ return. He can be kept off the 53-man roster for up to three weeks after reporting.(AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)
NFL teams did their wheeling and dealing early this year

By Arnie Stapleton Oct. 29, 2019 06:23 PM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2019, file photo, Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders carries the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Denver. The San Francisco 49ers have raced out to six straight wins to open the season despite lacking a dynamic receiver who could change a game in a single play. So when the opportunity to acquire a player like Sanders presented itself, the Niners didn't hesitate to make a move, giving up a pair of draft picks for a 32-year-old receiver in the final year of his contract. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
Undefeated 49ers get measuring stick game vs. Panthers

By Josh Dubow Oct. 24, 2019 08:29 PM EDT

Hall of Fame announces 122 nominees for class of 2020

Sep. 12, 2019 01:01 PM EDT
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — First-time eligible candidates Troy Polamalu and Patrick Willis are among 122 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of...

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2018, file photo, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman (25) defends on a pass to Arizona Cardinals' JJ Nelson during an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. Sherman had a strong season in his first year in San Francisco, showing that he had recovered from an Achilles' tendon injury that ended his 2017 season early. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
NFL 2019: 49ers need to deliver in Year 3 under Shanahan

By Josh Dubow Aug. 22, 2019 12:06 PM EDT

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway looks on during an NFL football training camp with the Broncos and San Francisco 49ers Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, in Englewood, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
A lot of parallels: Elway has long been Lynch's idol, mentor

By Arnie Stapleton Aug. 18, 2019 01:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2014, file photo, Denver Broncos' Champ Bailey answers a question during media day for the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game in Newark, N.J. Bailey will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on Aug. 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
HOF Preview: Bailey's best play blemished Brady's perfection

By Arnie Stapleton Jul. 30, 2019 12:25 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, June 10, 2019 file photo, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throws a pass during a drill at the team's NFL football training facility in Santa Clara, Calif. Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been cleared for everything when training camp begins for the San Francisco 49ers. Garoppolo passed his final test Friday, July 26, 2019 in his return from season-ending knee surgery when he took his physical when the Niners arrived at training camp. Garoppolo was limited to seven-on-seven drills during the offseason to avoid any possible contact to protect his left knee but will be able to take part in full team drills when practice starts on Saturday. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)
Garoppolo cleared for full practice when 49ers start camp

By Josh Dubow Jul. 26, 2019 05:36 PM EDT

Clemson defensive tackle Christian Wilkins moves into NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after the Miami Dolphins selected Wilkins in the first round at the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
3 QBs and lots of defenders highlight 1st round of draft

By Barry Wilner Apr. 25, 2019 04:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2018, file photo, Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford (55) during the first half of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif. The San Francisco 49ers opened the new league year Wednesday, March 13, by acquiring the defensive playmaker the team was sorely lacking in edge rusher Ford, as well as running back Tevin Coleman. The 49ers are sending a 2020 second-round pick to Kansas City for Ford and are giving him a new five-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade hadn't been announced. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron, File)
49ers get off to busy start in free agency

By Josh Dubow Mar. 13, 2019 11:37 PM EDT