Since then, the two have worked wonders in San Francisco, finding near-perennial success in the NFC West and conference as a whole, despite a number of changes at quarterback. They swung a deal for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017 and quickly surrounded him with a talented team, leading to an NFC title in 2019 and appearance in Super Bowl LIV.
Since then, the duo has weathered unusual instability under center, cycling through a number of options before trading up in the 2021 draft to select North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance. That experiment never got off the ground, though, due to Garoppolo’s presence and a season-ending injury to Lance in 2022. They ultimately traded Lance to Dallas in August after finding a diamond in 2022 Mr. Irrelevant and current face the future, Brock Purdy.
Despite these changes, Lynch and Shanahan have found consistent success, posting a 52-46 record between 2017 and 2022, and starting 2023 with three straight wins. They’ve reached the conference championship three times in six seasons and posted three seasons of 10-plus wins in that span. Their greatest downfall has been quarterback, but with Purdy now leading the way, the future remains bright for a franchise that undoubtedly appreciates the efforts of its regime.