After 15 seasons in the NFL, former Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety John Lynch is calling it a career.
The nine-time Pro Bowler will hold a retirement press conference from Tampa, Fla. on Monday at 1:00 p.m. MST.
In his 15 seasons with the Buccaneers (1993-2003) and Broncos (2004-07), Lynch racked up 1,277 tackles, intercepted 26 passes, grabbed 13 sacks, broke up 100 passes, forced 16 fumbles and built a well-deserved reputation as one of the most devastating hitters of his era.
Lynch was voted to the Pro Bowl all four years he spent in Denver, and he won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay. His nine Pro Bowls are tied for second in NFL history for a safety. He left Denver after the first week of training camp this season.
“I felt like I owed it to him to look at his options, if it is football, if its retirement — whatever he wants to do because he has given me everything he could give in the four years he’ s been here,” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said at the time. “If the guy is not happy, doesn’t feel right — then I am going to give him the opportunity to do what feels right for his future.”
Lynch didn’t bring a Super Bowl to Denver, one of his main goals when he became a Bronco, but he certainly made the team better both on and off the field when he donned the orange and blue.
“When I came here I looked (Shanahan) in the eye and told him we were going to win and championship and we didn’t get that done,” Lynch said. “I am sorry for that, but I also looked him in the eye and told him I gave it everything I could in terms of trying to do that.”
DenverBroncos.com will have coverage of the press conference on Monday.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: John Lynch, Retirement
One of the all-time best players and a real class act; a sure first-ballot Hall of Famer. Thanks for coming to Denver and blessing the Broncos with your strength, determination, and leadership. John, you will always be remembered as a champion.
If you should change your mind, we need you at safety. Anyway see you in the HOF!!!!!!!
NO!!!!!
John Lynch is the best player EVER in the NFL!!!
Well, this is just plain sad. I really wish we could have picked him back up… God knows we need him and every single soul in Broncos Country knows (whether you want to admit it or not) we could’ve used him back on this team.
I have so much respect for you, John Lynch. What you did with this team on and off the field was just life-changing. There are no words in any language that would do you the justice you deserve for being apart of this team. I know I’ll miss you out there, heck I have since you left before this season started. I wish we could have won a Championship with you… you’re too awesome for words. And as great of a player and person you are we will all gladly see you in the Hall of Fame in 5 years.
Thank you for spending 4 awesome years in Denver, as a Bronco. We were very blessed to have you and I’ll never forget what you did with this team. There may have been no Championship or anything remotely close to that but you brought respect, leadership and a drive to succeed to this team. You’ve affected so many people – players, coaches, the best fans in the world!!! I could go on and on about how I’ll miss you and what you did for the Broncos so I better stop. I’m about ready to cry… I’ll always remember #47. They need to retire your number in Denver… no one else deserves to wear the VERY highly respected 47. I wish you all the best in your life and I hope the next 5 years fly right by because I can’t wait to see you enshrined in the HOF. You were like the John Elway of our defense.
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
A class act that should never be forgotten by the youth of today.
John, Thanks for the memories and the hard work. See you in Canton!
Best saftey of all time !!!! But good idea to hang them up, We will see you in the HOF # 47
Best safety of all time… Right behind Dennis Smith and Steve Atwater.
You were good in Tampa, but just average in Denver. The reason you got selected to the pro-bowl in Denver is everyone knew your name already. Did I think you were good? Yeah you were good at stopping the run but towards the end of your career you put a hole in are defensive secondary. If you was 24 or 25 I would take you back in Denver. But at the moment we really don’t need an old slow guy who occasionally gets a good hit. Good luck with the hall of fame, there are a lot of better players than you who still haven’t got in. So good luck in 5 years.
Elwayfor pres:
You’re an idiot. It would be best if you never ever said anything again.
As for Lynch great player, great leader, and great person. I wish him the best in all his future endeavors.
Elwayforpres – you sure know how to brighten up someone’s day, dont ya? Why must you people be so rude. Lynch was just as good if not better in Denver than he was in Tampa. Yeah, he got a ring in Tampa but it wasn’t all his fault – he was on a team that actually played as a TEAM. What a thought, I know. That’s what we got to do here to get a Championship – and its not all one person’s fault if we make it or not. And to enforce even more what TheJackal said… it really would be a much better idea if you never said anything unless you got something positive to say. The guy just said he’s going to announce his retirement… have some compassion.
He IS and ALWAYS will be the BEST safety to ever grace the NFL with his presence… its going to take some monumental talent to be better than him – on and off the field.
GO BRONCOS!!!!
Why doesn’t Denver resign Lynch. You know he still wants to play and with our betterd D he would see alot of playing time like he wanted in the first place. Speaking of our batterd D, they actually look better now then they did in the first half of the season. In the last two games no 1 player has rushed for a 100 yards. When Champ comes back, hopefully the rest of the D will show up to.
I like our chances with the Falcons, even with the “Turner the Burner” who has a similar running style to Jamal Lewis from the Browns and we shut him down. The big question mark is the pass defense and how effective will it be against Matt Ryan and White.
Elwayforpres, you’re entitled to your thoughts and I’m not going to discourage that. However, sometimes in football it isn’t always about getting yours. I’m sure Lynch wanted more tackles and hits and stats. But he provided something that, this season I think we are missing, LEADERSHIP. He was great in Tampa and you think he wasn’t as good here, but he had just as big of an impact during his time in Denver. On that note, I haven’t seen any 24 or 25 year old safeties lay out LT lately. If my memory serves me correct Lynch did a number on LT last season @ SD. So you take your young safety Lynch, I’ll take Lynch right now. Sometimes the biggest impact you can have on your team isn’t in a stat book.
Hey “Elwayforpres” I just got a little dumber after reading your entry….stay off the site you half a cartoon clown….anyways….Lynch, you Al Wilson and Champ brought a gritty attitude home to Denver, you will always be apart of this team man….hope God blesses you in next stage of life.
I feel he is a real gentle man, He was needed on this team and it is too bad we weren’t able to work him in this year so he could retire as a Bronco. A great person, good leader for the team.
I agree with Elwayforpres about the hole in the secondary but Who Cares about that. Week in and Week out he lit a fire under the asses of our defense and it was very often Lynch who made the game changing hit or play. He symbolized how to play football and to me he was just as great as another John that suited up in orange and blue
John,
It was truly an honor to meet you at the Buc’s game here this year. (My son and I near the end of the game.)
As I said at the time, thanks for all the thrills you brought to us here in Denver.
All the best, and HOF in 5!!!
Hhmmm… I wonder if he’ll make it into the H.O.F?… (By the way, that was sarcasm)
Lynch,
You are by far a HOF Safety! You brought a lot of heart and leadership to the Broncos, and although we could deffinatly use ya back this year we loved ya while you were here. oh and just in case if you decide to pull a Favre and come back from your retirement I don’t think we will have any problem accepting you back! Best of luck to ya Lynch you the Man!
i agree best guy imaginable i wish you could stay tell you were 50 john goodluck i hope you read these comments create a name and talk to us we all love you john. as for all the hall of fame talk its well deserved.
wow why wont denver stop this he just wanted 1 more year and we need him atleast 1 more year
I wish he would’ve retired a Bronco but hey I’m happy he was here for 4 years. He was my favorite. I’ve got over 20 John lynch Broncos jersey’s and an autographed John Lynch helmet with photo next to my 2 John Elway autographed photos. But if you decide to change your mind our defense could use you. Good luck John.
John Lynch continued the rich tradition of great Bronco safety play. Goose Gonsoulin began the tradition. John ended the tradition, for the moment. Bronco safety play this season has been ordinary.
Best of luck to John. No matter what he tries next, he’ll be great. My guess is the broadcast booth or NFL Network
I’m with Cutlerizer, Lynch is a close third behind Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith. All we denizens of Bronco Country were privileged to have Lynch among us. He gave it his all on every play and I hope that he chooses to go into the HOF as a Bronco.
ELWAYFORPRES! PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
You know what’s funny? This man accomplished more in 15 minutes on a football field that you will your entire life!
I wasted 30 seconds of my life reading your crap a$$ statement and I’ll never get that back. However, Lynch will solidify his great career and move into the Hall of Fame.
You however, will still be paying your mother rent and wondering why you had to have such ugly kids. No, I don’t know if you have any, I’m just saying don’t because I’m sure they’ll turn out just like you if you do have any.
Didn’t I see you on A&E’s television show “Intervention”? Yeah, I did, you’re the meth addict that lived in Oakland and cheered for San Diego….that’s right. How are the teeth doing anyways?
Get a life you bottom feeder!
What a great career John Lynch had playing 15 yrs in the NFL. He played baseball and football at Stanford Univ. in Palo Alto Ca. Champ Bailey said Johns intensity was high caliber, and it showed with his ferocious hitting. He was drafted by the Marlins to pitch for them. The late legendary coach Bill Walsh converted John from QB to Safety at Stanford and the rest was history. John was the first player to use a microphone in the Super Bowl with the Buccanneers back in ’02 when they pasted the Raiders. The Bucs gave up on him after his initial neck surgery and he found a new home with the Broncos. He set the tone for the defense as they rallied around his hard hitting style to get them going!! A Leader that lead by example. John helped pull the team thru tragedy when we lost D-Will..
Thanks John for being part of our Bronco Family. Best wishes in your future years with broadcasting or whatever endeavors you may choose, and raising your beautiful family. Long live #47!!!!!!!!!!
John Lynch = Class Act.