Pictures from inside the Hall of Fame in Canton

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its list of 15 modern-era finalists, narrowed down from the 25 semifinalists announced in November, for the Class of 2021. There is one name on the list with ties to the San Francisco 49ers — current Niners general manager and former hard-hitting safety, John Lynch. This is Lynch's eighth consecutive year as a finalist. The former safety was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection throughout his 15-year NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos. During that time, he registered 1,051 combined tackles, 26 interceptions, 13 sacks, and 16 forced fumbles, according to ESPN. The 49ers named Lynch as their general manager in

For the second consecutive year, former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis failed to make the cutdown from 25 modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to 15 finalists. Many were shocked when Willis' name wasn't among the list of finalists last year. Imagine how they feel after it happened again. NFL Media analyst Adam Rank was among those "absolutely stunned" in 2020 when Willis' name was left off last year's list of finalists. "I thought he was one of the few automatic selections," Rank wrote last year. "But apparently some Hall of Fame voters tend to favor longevity over guys who were dominant over a shorter period of

The San Francisco 49ers are excited about defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw's potential. While the rookie defender recorded just 1.5 sacks during his first NFL season, he showed flashes of being a powerful playmaker who could develop into an elite talent along the interior of the defensive line. "I think Kinlaw is going to be a dominant force in this league," John Lynch told Tim Kawakami of The Athletic on The TK Show podcast. "I should say, 'is going to become,' because he's not there yet. He's shown flashes." Lynch knows a thing or two about impressive defensive-line play. He played behind a Hall of Famer in Warren Sapp. In fact, watching his former teammate cause