The privilege of coaching the Senior Bowl is offered to teams who finish among the bottom of the league. That included the 49ers in 2018. San Francisco, of course, was among the best teams in the NFL this season. It's a turnaround that took many by surprise.
Still, there was an advantage to finishing among the league's worst teams in 2018. It gave head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, and the 49ers a chance to further evaluate players like wide receiver Deebo Samuel, whom they drafted three months later.
Because of what led to that privilege, it's a path that Lynch doesn't recommend to others.
"To any other GM, I don't recommend the process we went through because we were bad enough that we got to coach the Senior Bowl," Lynch explained on Friday to Daniel Jeremiah and Rich Eisen on NFL Network. "As part of that process, we got to work with Deebo Samuel. He was a guy we had already established would be a tremendous fit, but we got an opportunity for a week to see just how strongly we felt about that.
"Then you come out of Mobile, and you say, 'OK, now we're excited to see him here (at the NFL Scouting Combine).' Every part of the test, he just continued to pass with flying colors.
"Sometimes being around, they say the guy can play or not play, but is he going to be a fit in our locker room with our culture, the things we believe in? And that became very evident and clear with Deebo right away down in Mobile and then furthermore here.
"It just because, 'Hey, we've got to find a way to make this guy part of us,' and it happened in the second round, and he played tremendous."
Samuel was mentioned several times on-air by Jeremiah as the wide receivers went through drills this week. That's because of the Niner receiver's success during his rookie campaign and the versatility he brings to Shanahan's offense.
NFL teams are working hard to identify and acquire the next Deebo.
"Position-less players is kind of where we're going with these guys who can do so many different things on both sides of the ball," Jeremiah added.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers end-of-season press conference: John Lynch, Kyle Shanahan to speak Wednesday
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan will hold their annual end-of-season press conference on Wednesday, January 21, at 11:30 a.m. (PT), offering insight into the team's plans for the upcoming offseason. The availability will allow local... -
John Lynch: Safe to say Brandon Aiyuk has played last snap with 49ers
Speculation has surrounded the future of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for months, and on Wednesday, general manager John Lynch all but confirmed what many in the media expected. Aiyuk, who did not return this season after suffering ACL and MCL injuries in... -
49ers' John Lynch on Jauan Jennings: "We'd love to have him back"
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings' future remains uncertain. After expressing frustration over his contract last year, the team restructured the final year of his deal, allowing the fan-favorite to earn additional incentives. Jennings is set to become a free... -
Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch hold 49ers end-of-season press conference
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch held their annual end-of-season press conference on Wednesday, reflecting on the team's 2025 campaign, which ended in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Here is everything they said. Transcript...