David Shaw on 49ers GM John Lynch: ‘He’s never failed at anything’

John Lynch's transition from quarterback to safety midway though his Stanford career was memorable. Just ask Stanford head coach David Shaw, his college teammate, who recalls Lynch making an immediate impact. "His first day with pads on, he knocked two guys out," said Shaw, a wide receiver at Stanford. Speaking to reporters on national signing day, Shaw acknowledged the 49ers' hiring of Lynch as their general manager was unusual, but he expects his friend to succeed. "An unconventional hire -- to hire somebody as GM who's never worked in a front office before," Shaw said. Lynch was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection during his 15-year NFL career and he flourished as a broadcaster for FOX after he retired.