Smiling 49ers GM John Lynch has eye-opening response to Rams drafting Ty Simpson

TL;DR

49ers GM John Lynch reacted with a grin to the Rams drafting QB Ty Simpson at No. 13 overall. Lynch acknowledged Simpson as a good player while hinting at the surprise of the pick during a press conference.

Key points

John Lynch reacted positively to the Rams drafting Ty Simpson
Ty Simpson was selected by the Rams with the No. 13 overall pick
The 49ers and Rams will face each other in Australia on September 10, 2026

Mentioned in this story

San Francisco 49ersLos Angeles RamsJohn LynchKyle ShanahanTy SimpsonSean McVay

An image collage containing 2 images, Image 1 shows San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan at a press conference, Image 2 shows Ty Simpson in a Rams hat, holding a Rams jersey with Roger Goodell The Rams-49ers rivalry was already spicy enough. But after Thursday nights opening press conferences following the 20206 NFL draft, the battle between the two division rivals just got a lot more intense. When speaking with media, 49ers GM John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan were asked their thoughts on what the Rams did: selecting Alabama QB Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick in the most shocking move of the first round — by far.

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being chosen by the Los Angeles Rams with the 13th overall pick during the first round of the NFL Draft. AP In a moment that’s now going viral, Lynch didn’t even wait for the question to finish before flashing a huge grin, a small chuckle and looking away. Shanahan was a little more composed, but he also had a slight smirk before looking at Lynch to see his boss’s reaction. As if that wasn’t enough, Lynch responded to the question in a very diplomatic manner. But the whole time, it was apparent he was trying to keep from laughing. “Well, I think, first of all, another team in our division that a got a player who is gonna [be an] impact. I’m talking about Jeremiyah Love, a fantastic player,” Lynch said. “Ty Simpson’s a good football player. You know, I think there was a lot made as to where he would go and what teams would do that probably surprised everybody, but one think I’ve learned over the years is that with qurterbacks, people will do those things. And they [Rams] certainly did, so we’ll see. However, Lynch and Shanahan aren’t the only ones to have interesting reactions when asked about Simpson. In a , Rams head coach McVay showed shockingly little enthusiasm when discussing Simpson during LA’s press conference Thursday night. He seemed annoyed for most of the press conference, rarely smiling and lacking the normal zeal and passion he usually speaks with. These two teams are set to open the 2026 season against one another in Australia on Thursday, Sept. 10.

Q&A

What did John Lynch say about Ty Simpson being drafted by the Rams?

John Lynch acknowledged Ty Simpson as a good football player but expressed surprise at the Rams' decision to draft him at No. 13 overall.

When do the 49ers and Rams play each other in the 2026 season?

The 49ers and Rams are set to open the 2026 season against each other in Australia on Thursday, September 10.

How did Rams coach Sean McVay react to drafting Ty Simpson?

Rams coach Sean McVay showed little enthusiasm during the press conference, appearing annoyed and lacking his usual passion when discussing Ty Simpson.