John Lynch (American football)

For other people named John Lynch, see John Lynch (disambiguation).
John Lynch

refer to caption

Lynch at the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl.
No. 47
Position: Strong safety
Personal information
Date of birth: (1971-09-25) September 25, 1971
Place of birth: Hinsdale, Illinois
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school: San Diego (CA) Torrey Pines
College: Stanford
NFL Draft: 1993 / Round: 3 / Pick: 82
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 1,058
Quarterback sacks: 13.0
Interceptions: 26
Forced fumbles: 16
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

John Terrence Lynch, Jr. (born September 25, 1971) is a former American football strong safety who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and is a current color commentator for the Fox network's coverage of the NFL.[1] He played college football at Stanford University, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft.

A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Lynch earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII. He also spent time with the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots before retiring as a free agent during the 2008 season. He was ranked No. 10 as the most feared tackler in NFL history, on the NFL Films production "Top 10 Most Feared Tacklers", for the NFL Network, a list shared with the likes of Dick Butkus, Lawrence Taylor, Jack Tatum, Ronnie Lott, and Jack Lambert.[2]

Early years

Lynch was born in Hinsdale, Illinois. He attended Torrey Pines High School in the Carmel Valley/Del Mar area of San Diego, California, where he also played baseball and basketball.

College career

Lynch starred in baseball and football at Stanford University. While there he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.[3]

Baseball career

Lynch was drafted as a right handed pitcher by the Florida Marlins the second round (66th overall) of the 1992 amateur draft. He threw the first pitch in the organization's history as a member of the Erie Sailors, which was a 95 mph ball. His jersey is in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He played two seasons in the minor leagues with the Sailors and Kane County Cougars, starting nine games and going 1–3 with a 2.36 earned run average.

He roomed with Edgar Renteria, according to his comments during the October 31 broadcast of the Oakland Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks NFL game, for which Lynch acts as a broadcaster.

Football career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lynch was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round (82nd pick overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft. Lynch played his first 11 seasons in the league with the Buccaneers. When he arrived, the Buccaneers were among the worst teams in the league; his first three years were the last of a record stretch of 10-loss seasons. However, he was a key player on the aggressive Tampa 2 defenses of the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 2002, Lynch collected a Super Bowl ring in Super Bowl XXXVII with the Bucs.

Lynch was released by the Buccaneers following the 2003 season for salary cap reasons.[4]

Denver Broncos

Lynch signed a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos prior to the 2004 season, despite being courted by the New England Patriots.[5]

In the 2005 season, Lynch nearly made his second Super Bowl, but the Broncos lost to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.

He served as the Broncos defensive captain in 2006 and 2007. On July 31, 2008, Lynch was granted his release by the Broncos.[6] Lynch said in a news conference that his lack of playing time heading into this season was a reason for his departure.[7]

Lynch was officially inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame on Oct. 23, 2016 in a ceremony at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, joining kicker Jason Elam and linebacker Simon Fletcher in the class of 2016.[8]

Lynch was officially inducted into the Buccaneers Ring of Honor on Nov. 3, 2016 in a ceremony at Raymond James Stadium. Lynch joins Lee Roy Selmon, John McKay, Jimmie Giles, Paul Gruber, Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, Mike Alstott and Doug Williams in the Ring of Honor.

New England Patriots

Lynch visited with the New England Patriots on August 13, 2008,[9] then agreed to a 1-year deal worth $1.5 million.[10] However, on September 1, 2008, Lynch was released from the team.[11]

Retirement

On November 17, 2008, while in Tampa, Lynch officially announced his retirement from football. Six days later, he joined NFL on Fox in the broadcasting booth as a color commentator, and was paired with Chris Rose. His first game covered was the Week 12, November 23, 2008 match-up of the Minnesota Vikings at the Jacksonville Jaguars. He now does commentary alongside Kevin Burkhardt.

NFL stats

Year Team Games Combined Tackles Tackles Assisted Tackles Sacks Forced Fumbles Fumble Recoveries Fumble Return Yards Interceptions Interception Return Yards Yards per Interception Return Longest Interception Return Interceptions Returned for Touchdown Passes Defended
1993 TB 15 10 9 1 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
1994 TB 16 16 11 5 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1995 TB 9 38 27 11 0.0 0 0 0 3 3 1 3 0 5
1996 TB 16 100 71 29 1.0 2 1 0 3 26 9 25 0 9
1997 TB 16 110 74 36 0.0 1 2 0 2 28 14 28 0 2
1998 TB 15 85 50 35 2.0 1 1 0 2 29 15 17 0 7
1999 TB 16 116 80 36 0.5 1 0 0 2 32 16 28 0 9
2000 TB 16 85 56 29 1.0 0 2 0 3 43 14 36 0 8
2001 TB 16 87 62 25 1.0 1 1 0 3 21 7 15 0 7
2002 TB 15 64 41 23 0.0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 8
2003 TB 14 72 50 22 0.5 0 0 0 2 18 9 18 0 8
2004 DEN 15 64 47 17 2.0 3 0 0 1 2 2 2 0 8
2005 DEN 16 61 44 17 4.0 4 0 0 2 2 1 1 0 8
2006 DEN 16 84 59 25 0.0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
2007 DEN 13 59 46 13 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
Career 224 1,051 727 324 13.0 16 8 0 26 204 8 36 0 89

[12]

Personal

Lynch is married to Linda, older sister of his close friend and former NFL tight end John Allred. He and Allred had a run-in during a 1997 NFL game that resulted in Allred almost getting knocked out from a hit.[13][14]

References

  1. ↑ Mayer, Larry. "Lynch didn't quite send message he intended". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved 2012-09-23. Former NFL safety John Lynch, who's broadcasting Sunday's Bears-Rams game at Soldier Field on Fox, will never forget Brandon Marshall's first practice with the Denver Broncos.
  2. ↑ "Top 10 most-feared tacklers in NFL history". NFL.com. Retrieved 2014-11-14. Bears TE John Allred, brother in law to John Lynch, learned the hard way about the safety's passion for collisions with unsuspecting ball carriers.
  3. ↑ The Rainbow, vol. 132, no. 4, p. 26,
  4. ↑ "Lynch's 11-year run in Tampa ends". Sports.espn.go.com. March 12, 2004. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  5. ↑ Reiss, Mike (August 14, 2008). "Patriots sign Lynch". Boston.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  6. ↑ Williamson, Bill (July 31, 2008). "Lynch leaves Broncos, weighs options on and off field". Sports.espn.go.com. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  7. ↑ "Broncos make it official, release John Lynch". 9news.com. K-USA NBC. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  8. ↑ http://www.9news.com/sports/nfl/denver-broncos/mike-klis/john-lynch-had-four-year-ring-of-fame-stay-in-denver/340315823
  9. ↑ Reiss, Mike (August 13, 2008). "Patriots hosting John Lynch". Boston.com. The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  10. ↑ "Lynch getting acclimated to life with Patriots". =NFL.com. August 17, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  11. ↑ "Patriots cut Lynch, Jackson; add six to practice squad". NFL.com. September 2, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-28.
  12. ↑ "John Lynch Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  13. ↑ Lynch, John (November 24, 2011). "Ravens must make QB beat them". FoxSports.com. Fox Sports. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  14. ↑ "Top Ten Most Feared Tacklers: #10 John Lynch". YouTube.com. jaw1987cchs. January 14, 2011. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
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