Ex-Lions GM Millen: Lynch facing 'steep learning curve' with 49ers

Matt Millen has been there, done that.

After making the jump from the broadcast booth to Detroit Lions president and CEO in 2001, and doing so devoid of front-office experience, the former executive knows all about the challenges John Lynch will face as general manager in San Francisco.

"When I heard the news, good luck," Millen told Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press. "He’s a bright guy. I mean, the parallels are kind of funny, actually. He was a defensive guy, he was a really good player. All those things, all that crap. But none of those things are factors. The things that are factors are, can you manage people? Can you get everybody on the same page? Can you handle the politics? If you got that, fine. If you don’t have it, then it’ll turn out the way it turns out."

Millen held the president title in Detroit for two seasons before also taking on general manager duties in 2003. He continued in that role until his dismissal a few weeks into the 2008 season, at which point his record with the team had reached a disappointing 31-84.

Lynch, a nine-time Pro Bowl safety who retired from the NFL in 2008, steps into the 49ers job after nine years working as a color analyst with FOX. Millen suggested that an ability to build relationships will play a significant role in any success that lies ahead.

"It’s a little different (situation than I was in), but it’s similar," Millen said. "So it still comes down to you have to know people, you have to know people in the league. You have to have contact, you have to have people who you - it’s easy to say, 'Hey, we're going to fire this guy.' Oh, yeah? Who you going to hire? And how do you know them? Are they qualified? What’s their work like?

"I mean, that’s what it comes down to. The other stuff is, football is, that’s the easy part. The hard part is working with people to make something work. That’s the hard part. Because you know coaches - 'cause interviews, everybody sounds the same. You better know a guy."

Ultimately, there's a lot of uncertainty as the 49ers move ahead with an unconventional hire to lead the much-needed organizational rebuild. While it could certainly end up working out for the better, there are plenty of things Lynch will have to pick up on the fly.

“It’s doable," Millen said. "It’s just going to be a steep learning curve."