Reports: Cardinals’ Terry McDonough falls short of GM post as 49ers hire John Lynch

Arizona Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough will not be joining the San Francisco 49ers as general manager.

The Niners will hire former NFL safety and current FOX Sports analyst John Lynch as the next front office leader after the two sides agreed to a six-year deal, reported FOX’s Jay Glazer on Sunday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco confirmed the news.

McDonough, who works under Cardinals general manager Steve Keim, was on the initial list to replace fired San Francisco GM Trent Baalke. He and assistant Minnesota Vikings general manager George Paton advanced through the interview process for a further look, but Lynch was a candidate all along.

NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports that Lynch refused to go through the interview process unless the 49ers kept his name a secret.

Lynch played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1993-2003 and then for the Broncos from 2004-2007. He has no NFL front office personnel experience.

Schefter reports Lynch entered himself into the running for the GM opening by reaching out to  soon-to-be 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. Lynch played under Shanahan’s father, Mike, while playing in Denver.

McDonough is the brother of current Phoenix Suns general manager Ryan McDonough.

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