John Lynch
Acting
Biography
Born September 25, 1971, in Hinsdale, Illinois, John Terrence Lynch Jr. attended Torrey Pines High School in San Diego where he excelled in football, baseball, and basketball. Stanford University recruited him to play quarterback beginning in 1989, but after losing the starting competition entering his junior season, Lynch focused on pitching for Stanford's baseball team. The Florida Marlins drafted him in the second round (66th overall) of the 1992 Major League Baseball draft as a right-handed pitcher, and he threw the first pitch in the organization's history. When Bill Walsh became Stanford's head coach in January 1992, he convinced Lynch to return to football. Walsh moved him to free safety for his senior season, where Lynch recorded 76 combined tackles, four interceptions, and a 62-yard interception return touchdown, helping Stanford achieve a 10-3 record and finish ranked ninth nationally. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Lynch in the third round (82nd overall) of the 1993 NFL draft after Walsh personally called head coach Sam Wyche to vouch for Lynch's commitment to football over baseball. Lynch earned the starting strong safety position in 1995 and had his breakout performance against Minnesota, collecting eleven combined tackles, deflecting two passes, and intercepting two passes from Warren Moon—crediting his success to knowing Vikings head coach Dennis Green's tendencies from playing under him at Stanford. Head coach Tony Dungy and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin installed the Tampa 2 defense in 1996, making Lynch an integral component. Nicknamed "The Closer" by Kiffin for his clutch late-game playmaking ability, Lynch sealed crucial victories with fourth-quarter interceptions. His defining achievement came on January 26, 2003, when he won Super Bowl XXXVII in his hometown of San Diego as the Buccaneers defeated Oakland 48-21. Lynch played fifteen NFL seasons, finishing with 1,058 tackles, 26 interceptions, 13 sacks, and 16 forced fumbles. His nine Pro Bowl selections (five with Tampa Bay, four with Denver) tie for second-most all-time among safeties, and he earned four All-Pro honors. Lynch retired in 2008 and joined NFL on Fox as a color commentator until 2017. On January 29, 2017, the San Francisco 49ers hired him as general manager, and he earned 2019 Executive of the Year honors after leading the team to a 13-3 record. Lynch received a contract extension and the additional title of president of football operations in September 2023. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Known For
A behind-the-scenes look at the glitzy, big-money world of professional sports following the eternally optimistic and endlessly resourceful L.A. sports agent Arliss Michaels whose Achilles' heel is his inability to say “no” to clients and employees.
Arli$$
"The Build" offers a cinematic, behind-the-scenes look at the 49ers preseason, following the everyday lives of players, coaches, and staff. Across three episodes, viewers will see the dedication and grit that goes into the team's preparation ahead of the 2025 regular season. From practice sessions to exclusive insider access, "The Build" captures the heart and hustle behind the 49ers preseason.
The Build
First you hear the breathing, then you feel the wind coming through your helmet's ear hole. Suddenly you're down, and you're looking through your helmet's ear hole. Pain? That's for tomorrow morning. Right now you've gotta focus - focus on the next play and try not to focus on the next Moment of Impact. Moment of Impact takes you through the rugged world of the NFL like never before. You'll go into the huddle, up to the line, and under the pile with some of the game's roughest customers - men like Ray Lewis, Patrick Kearney, John Lynch and Michael Strahan. You'll meet some of the greatest defensive units of all time and find out which teams have a "tradition by position". But hard-hitting isn't limited to defense - we'll take a look at offensive players who can dish it out as well as they can take it as well as the art of being a "gunner" on special teams
NFL Moment of Impact
An in-depth look at San Francisco 49ers training camp and preseason activities, highlighting both players and coaching staff as they prepare for the 2024 NFL campaign.