Seahawks’ Pete Carroll provided insight to 49ers GM John Lynch

This Nov. 9, 2014 photo shows former NFL player John Lynch on the sideline before an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans. The San Francisco 49ers have hired Lynch to be their general manager. After a lengthy search that included interviews with nine other publicly identified candidates, team CEO Jed York settled on a mystery candidate when he gave the job to Lynch on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017. (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman) less This Nov. 9, 2014 photo shows former NFL player John Lynch on the sideline before an NFL football game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans. The San Francisco 49ers have ... more Photo: Jonathan Bachman, Associated Press Photo: Jonathan Bachman, Associated Press Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Seahawks’ Pete Carroll provided insight to 49ers GM John Lynch 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Last month, John Lynch acknowledged at least one NFL head coach wasn’t overjoyed when he became the 49ers’ general manager in January.

“Pete Carroll still gives me a hard time,” Lynch said, laughing while recalling what the Seahawks’ head coach told him. “He said, ‘You knew you were doing this and I let you in!’”

Indeed, Carroll repeatedly let Lynch, a former Fox analyst, see how the Seahawks run their wildly successful program after arriving in Seattle in 2010. During television production meetings, Carroll discussed his players, schemes and philosophies with Lynch, who worked 17 Seattle games from 2010 through ’16.

Lynch’s final telecast? That would be the Seahawks’ divisional-playoff loss to Atlanta in January. The analyst when the 49ers made their last trip to Seattle? Yes, Lynch again.

On Wednesday, four days before the 49ers visit the Seahawks, Carroll was asked about the friendly face who is now a prominent member of an NFC West rival.

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“I was kind of disappointed that he would be the GM in our division because I like John a lot, and he asked a lot of questions,” Carroll said, laughing on a conference call with the Bay Area media. “More than most guys do and we went into a lot of depth. So he does know. He does know kind of how we think. Whether that’s becoming part of what they’re doing, I don’t know. But I know we’ve talked a lot.”

So here’s the question: Will Lynch’s information be of any use to the 49ers as they prepare to visit CenturyLink Field? The 49ers certainly could use any intel they can get as they attempt to snap a seven-game losing streak against Seattle. They’ve dropped six straight road games in the series, losing by an average score of 30-12 in Seattle.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan dismissed the idea that Lynch has been helping him prepare his offensive game plan this week. He joked that Lynch told him about the pass coverage the Seahawks have favored for years.

“He told me they like Cover 3,” Shanahan deadpanned. “I wrote it down. I took a note.”

It’s most likely just an interesting story line with Lynch arriving as a new figure in what used to be the NFL’s fiercest rivalry. Carroll noted Lynch wasn’t the only member of the 49ers with vast knowledge of the Seahawks. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was a defensive quality-control coach with Seattle from 2011 through ’13 and counts Carroll as a mentor.

“I coached with Robert Saleh and I told him everything I knew, too,” Carroll said. “That’s just part of what happens.”

Lynch became close with both Carroll and Seattle general manager John Schneider over the years. At this year’s combine, Schneider said he has mined Lynch, a former NFL safety, for information on the position he used to play to better evaluate prospects.

Neither Carroll nor Schneider had an inkling Lynch was thinking of a front-office job. Looking back, Carroll says Lynch was prepping for his next career move as he prepped for TV games.

“He was very much in-depth, beyond where most guys go,” Carroll said. “He wanted to know why. And what you’re thinking. And that kind of stuff. I didn’t really put it together. I thought he was going to be doing ‘Monday Night Football’ or something some day.

“But he’s really smart. An extraordinary competitor. Got all the grit in the world. So he was just adding up his background and his reservoir of information at the time. It makes sense.”

For his part, Lynch said his nine seasons at Fox allowed him to continue his NFL education after a 15-year playing career during which he counted four Super Bowl winners as his head coaches. Lynch played for Buccaneers and Broncos before his career ended when the Patriots released him in training camp in 2008.

“There are only so many secrets,” Lynch said. “But as far as philosophies and all that, it really was a cool vantage point to see. I knew how Tony Dungy did it. I knew how Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan did it, and a little bit of Bill Belichick.

“But I never knew about Pete Carroll and his philosophies on things. I never knew about (New Orleans head coach) Sean Payton and what he thought. And everyone’s a little different. So you pick up a little. I don’t want to overdo that, but your experiences are who you are. And those experiences were unique.”

Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch