There's a common thread with the new-look San Francisco 49ers.

Many of the players, coaches and front office staff members who are coming to the Bay Area have connections with either Kyle Shanahan or John Lynch. Shanahan brought in several coaches that he's spent time with during his decade-plus as an NFL coach. John Lynch's first hire was Adam Peters, someone he knew well from the Denver Broncos organization.

That trend has continued into the first day of free agency. Pierre Garçon has signed a two-year contract and is now the first quarterback on the 49ers roster for the 2017 season.

Here are five things to know about the nine-year NFL veteran.1. He has ties to Shanahan

As previously alluded to, Hoyer is no stranger to San Francisco's head coach or his offensive system. The two spent the 2014 season together with the Cleveland Browns. Hoyer entered the year as Cleveland's starting quarterback and posted a 7-4 record through Week 11. He finished the season with a career-high 3,326 passing yards.2. He has extended time as a starting QB

Hoyer has a 16-15 record in 31 career starts. He began the 2013 season 3-0 with the Browns prior to suffering a season-ending ACL injury. In 2015 with the Houston Texans, Hoyer started nine games, posted a 5-4 record and set a career-high with 19 touchdown passes to just seven interceptions.

In his career, Hoyer has thrown for 8,606 yards and 44 touchdowns.**

3. He played well in 2016**

Hoyer's lone season with the Chicago Bears was cut short due to injury, but not before he posted four straight 300-yard games from Weeks 3-6. He posted a 6:0 touchdown to interception ration during that stretch. Hoyer's 397-yard outburst in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts set a new career-high. In all, the quarterback has nine career 300-yard performances to his name.4. He began his career as Tom Brady's backup

Hoyer went undrafted in 2009 despite entering the NFL as a two-year starter at Michigan State. He finished his collegiate career with 6,159 passing yards, 35 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. The New England Patriots picked up Hoyer, where he served as Brady's backup for three seasons.

"Brian was a great player who worked hard to develop himself into a starting caliber NFL quarterback,'' Brady told cleveland.com back in 2013. "Nobody worked harder or committed himself more than Brian. He's a great friend and I'm not surprised that he's succeeded once he got an opportunity.''

He's since made stops with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2012), Arizona Cardinals (2012), Browns (2013-14) and Bears (2016).5. He's a former baseball star

Hoyer grew up in Lakewood, Ohio and starred on the diamond for Saint Ignatius High School. During his sophomore season in 2002, he posted an 8-1 record as a starting pitcher with a 1.99 ERA and led the Wildcats to an Ohio Division I State Championship. Hoyer was the winning pitcher in the championship game, allowing two earned runs over six innings.