Coronavirus: 49ers GM thanks workers, wants to see your home office
John Lynch, the 49ers' general manager, thanked those working the "front line" during the coronavirus pandemic, and for people working at home like him, he wants to see what your office looks like.
General manager John Lynch and the 49ers aren’t merely scouring film to prepare for the draft and any other free agency moves.
They also want to see pictures of your home office.
Two weeks since the 49ers locked up their facilities amid the coronavirus outbreak, Lynch tweeted out videos Friday cautioning others to stay home while also thanking those in society who are out battling the pandemic He did so sharing his home-office look with hopes the “49ers Faithful” will do the same.
As we all #DoOurPart and #WFH, I wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at where I’m getting ready for the NFL Draft. We’d love to see how you’re working from home – the more @49ers red and gold the better. Tag #IGYB to share with us. #StayHome pic.twitter.com/pXmmmbuKL7
— John Lynch (@JohnLynch49ers) March 27, 2020
“I know it’s not ideal working for home,” Lynch said. “The blessing for our family is we’ve got four kids, two are in college, and the great blessing is they’ve been home. We’ve got tremendous time together.
“While they’re doing their online-schooling, I’m in here grinding away, but we all get to see each other. And that’s wonderful. So, make the best of the situation.”
Lynch requested that fans tweet pictures of their home offices to the 49ers under the hashtag #IGYB, which stands for the in-house motto of “I’ve Got Your Back” that they rallied around last season en route to the Super Bowl.
What did we spy inside Lynch’s home office?
Well, above his desk are three commemorative footballs, including one for winning NFL Executive of the Year honors last year from the Pro Football Writers of America; four bobblehead dolls, including those of Jimmy Garoppolo and George Kittle; about 35 books on the top shelf, not all football oriented. On the other side of the room, is a wall-mounted television he uses to scout draft picks, and Friday he had a Kentucky game on his screen. (Kentucky’s top prospects are at positions of need for the 49ers, those being guard Logan Stenberg and wide receiver Lynn Bowden)
Well aware that not everyone is working from home, Lynch posted a separate video thanking those in society who are out battling the pandemic
“I wanted to take this opportunity, on behalf of the 49ers organization, to thank the many men and women that have been on the front line in this virus pandemic,” Lynch said in a video he tweeted. “To the nurses, the doctors, the health-care workers, the police, the firemen, the people at the grocery stores that are going every day, the essential workers — we can’t thank you enough.”
The 49ers have a resource page at 49ers.com/IGYB for those enduring the lockdown in the Bay Area and most parts of the nation.
The NFL ordered all team facilities closed until April 8, and, as of Thursday, insisted that the draft will proceed April 23 through April 25, just not in Las Vegas as the originally scheduled public forum.
Lynch, speaking from his home office, affirmed the 49ers are continuing their draft preparations and gauging free agency, which opened last week.
“I’m thankful for the terrific work that our entire staff — from our scouts, our coaches, our IT, our video — to get ready for this draft,” Lynch added. “This draft is absolutely huge for us, so there’s no excuses, no explanations. We’ve got to get our work done, albeit from home. We’ve been killing the Zoom meetings. I should have bought stock in Zoom.”
Lynch gave special thanks to his personnel crew, including Adam Peters, Martin Mayhew, Ethan Waugh and coach Kyle Shanahan’s staff.
A former hard-hitting safety, Lynch closed a video with a strong message:
“Let’s continue to do our part by staying at home, staying safe. Pick up your phone and call somebody you love who might be lonely and say hello to them,” Lynch said.
“Be strong, stay at home, stay safe, and a saying that we have in the Niners building is: ‘I’ve Got Your Back.’ At this time, never has that been more important, to have everybody else’s back.”
The NFL’s first coronavirus case surfaced March 19, when New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton disclosed he had tested positive and that his health was improving.
Health officials in Santa Clara County, where the 49ers’ headquarters is located, said Friday that COVID-19 had claimed 20 lives countywide among 574 cases. No 49ers employees are known to have tested positive.