Quarterback Philip Rivers is headed to the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year deal worth $25 million. Until now, he spent 16 seasons with the Chargers, who, before moving to Los Angeles in 2017, were in San Diego.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch is from San Diego. He recently shared a story from 2017 with Matt Barrows of The Athletic that involved the former Chargers quarterback.
Barrows shared a story on why the 49ers executive might owe Rivers hundreds of dollars. It involves the under-wraps meeting between himself, team CEO Jed York, Paraag Marathe, and then-Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, as the 49ers were seeking a new general manager and head coach.
John Lynch recently told me a great story involving Rivers. In 2017, he had flown to Atlanta with Jed York and Paraag Marathe to meet with Kyle Shanahan about the possibility of the two of them taking over the 49ers .... https://t.co/4DnOROj7tK
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 17, 2020
2. ... the meeting went well, but Lynch kept looking at his watch. He was due back in San Diego for a father-daughter dance that evening, a date he absolutely could not miss. Finally, the interview ends and Lynch hops on a plane back home ...
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 17, 2020
3. ... He's late and is frantically texting to see if the dance is still going on. It is but only because one of the other dads had been tipping the DJ one hundred dollar bills in an effort to keep it going later than scheduled. That other dad? Philip Rivers...
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 17, 2020
4. ... Lynch finally arrived and got to have one dance with his daughter. (Cue the "Awwwwww"). He also probably owes Rivers half a grand. In case you're wondering, he and Shanahan ended up getting the 49ers gig....
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 17, 2020
5. ... This story and many other AMAZING 49ers tales can be found in my upcoming 49ers book, which is scheduled to be published in the fall (coronapermitting)
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 17, 2020