Former San Francisco 49ers general manager John McVay passes away at 91 years old

One of the most influential general managers in NFL and San Francisco 49ers history, John McVay passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91. McVay took a front office position with the 49ers in 1980 after coaching the New York Giants, and oversaw five Super Bowl wins during his time with San Francisco as vice president/director of football operations.

John McVay’s impact on the 49ers

“This is a very sad day for our organization and the entire football community. John McVay was a driving force in constructing teams for our five Super Bowl titles. Most importantly, John was a Hall of Fame person who built genuine and sincere relationships with front office staff, coaches and players. John’s commitment and contributions to the 49ers created the standard and tradition we strive to carry on today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the McVay family,” read an official statement from the San Francisco 49ers.

McVay’s impact on the San Francisco franchise is nearly impossible to overstate, as the tremendous success of their team during his tenure is one of the most dominant stretches in NFL history. McVay was named NFL Executive of the Year in 1989, and retired initially from the 49ers in 1996. However, he was brought back to help the franchise during a transition of ownership in 1998 — and remained for another five years.

McVay’s grandson is Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, who continued his grandfather’s legacy of winning championships last season. Sean McVay became the youngest NFL coach in history at 30 years old when hired by the Rams in 2017, and became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl as well.