Report: Anthony Lynn to be named associate head coach of NFL team

Former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn is being hired as the Assistant Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ers, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Friday evening. He had other NFL and college offers, but he’s now expected to be a key piece of the 49ers’ offense and run game.

Jon Embree, San Francisco’s previous assistant head coach and tight ends coach, decided not to return to the 49ers for the 2022 season. The team reportedly asked him to take a 60 percent pay cut. Embree was an original member of head coach Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers staff in 2017. He’d coached All-Pro tight end George Kittle since his rookie season in 2017.

During the 2021-2022 season, Lynn guided the Lions’ offensive attack and helped D’Andre Swift pile up over 1,000 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns. While the Lions only won three games this season, they were very competitive in several others. Most recently, Lynn was also the head coach of the LA Chargers from 2017-2020.

He struggled mightily with late game management scenarios with the Chargers, which led to him being removed from his post on Jan. 4, 2021.

He compiled a 33-31 overall record during his four seasons as their head coach, including a 12-4 record during the 2018 season. It marked the franchise’s first playoff berth since the 2013 season. He posted a 5-11 record in 2019 and a 7-9 record in 2020.

Anthony Lynn’s playing career

As a player in the NFL, Lynn played for a variety of teams during his career, including the New York Giants, Denver Broncos, and the San Francisco 49ers. He was a part of the Broncos back-to-back Super Bowl champion teams in 1997 and 1998.

He played his college football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The former Red Raider was named an All-Southwest Conference running back in 1990. His senior season was cut short by a knee injury and the concerns around the injury caused him to go undrafted.