"Kyle and I, when we broke the news to him [last Friday], saw him light up a little bit," Lynch said. "And he loves it here. He was very appreciative of the opportunity. Typical Trey, he apologized to us, and there was nothing for him to apologize for.
"We're happy that he's got a spot, and the Cowboys came up big, and I think that's an indication that they're excited to have him. And we're excited for Trey's new opportunity, and we'll always be big fans."
Lance sought an opportunity to compete, to go somewhere he might have a better chance to develop. Unfortunately, it seemed that wasn't going to happen with the Niners. The third-year player lost the QB2 battle to Sam Darnold.
Speaking to Cowboys reporters for the first time since the trade, Lance revealed what was going through his mind when he received the news from the 49ers.
"When I heard 'Cowboys,' I had a big smile on my face," Lance said, per The Athletic's Jon Machota.
The Cowboys shipped a fourth-round draft pick to the 49ers in exchange for Lance, who joins quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush on the 53-man roster. That compensation is significantly less than what it cost San Francisco to move up in the 2021 NFL Draft to acquire Lance, three first-round picks and a third-rounder. The deal will likely go down as one of the worst draft trades in NFL history.
While things didn't work out like the 49ers and Lance hoped, the quarterback appreciates his time in Santa Clara.
"I learned a ton," Lance said, per Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. "Like I said, just very thankful for everyone there. It's not how I expected it to go. It's not [how] I think a lot of people expected it to go. But I believe that everything happens for a reason. I think I'm here for a reason."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers training camp: Deebo returns, Shanahan addresses team, Stribling misses practice
The San Francisco 49ers held their fifth full training camp practice on Saturday as they continued preparations for the 2026 NFL season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan continues to make progress in his recovery from the concussion he suffered in a July 14 car accident. For the first... -
Nick Bosa seriously doubts Joey Bosa will join the 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers expect the return of defensive end Nick Bosa to provide a significant boost to a pass rush that managed an NFL-low 20 sacks last season. However, if the unit continues to struggle in 2026, many believe the team could explore adding another proven... -
49ers have learned to keep secrets, but is this a good thing?
For years, the San Francisco 49ers had a reputation for being one of the easiest NFL teams to get information from. Not because the team was particularly transparent, but because information seemed to find its way out of the building. That changed in 2017. Since Kyle Shanahan... -
49ers' Trent Williams embraces final NFL chapter, savoring every training camp moment
San Francisco 49ers left tackle Trent Williams made it clear that his current contract, which runs through the 2027 season, will likely be the final deal of his illustrious NFL career. Speaking to reporters after the 49ers' first training camp practice on Sunday, Williams was...