Anthony Lynn appreciates 49ers' resources after stint with Chargers

San Francisco 49ers assistant coach Anthony Lynn is enjoying his time in the Bay Area after a less gratifying tenure as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.

"This organization will do whatever it takes to win," Lynn told the Los Angeles Times' Sam Farmer. "Resources out the (ears). That was different for me compared to what I was going through in L.A. So it's just like, man, this is what it's supposed to be like. I forgot how that felt."

The Chargers went 33-31 under Lynn over his four seasons as head coach. He was fired after posting a 7-9 record in 2020.

Lynn knew what a winning culture felt like as a player, as he won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan in the 1990s. Lynn praised head coach Kyle Shanahan, son of Mike, for establishing an environment that allowed the 49ers to go 13-4 this season.

"We had more of a veteran, blue-collar team back then (with the Broncos), but the culture here is the same," said the 54-year-old. "Players feel like they can be vulnerable with coaches and with each other, and that's not a typical environment in the National Football League with this generation."

Lynn, who's also the 49ers' running backs coach, has loved working with midseason acquisition Christian McCaffrey. Lynn sees similarities between McCaffrey and the rusher's father, Ed McCaffrey; the former wide receiver was Lynn's teammate with the Broncos.

"Ed passed (the hard work) gene right down to his son," Lynn said. "Christian is so much like his dad. I'm telling him that all the time: 'That reminds me of Ed.'"

McCaffrey totaled 746 rushing yards, 464 receiving yards, and 10 total touchdowns in 11 games with the 49ers this season.

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