Pro Bowl safety John Lynch to retire
Sports Network | November 14, 2008
Tampa, FL (Sports Network) - Pro Bowl safety John Lynch will announce his retirement at a news conference Monday afternoon in Tampa.
Lynch was selected to nine Pro Bowls at the safety position during his 15-year career with Tampa Bay and Denver. That's the second-most at the position in league history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Ken Houston (10).
A third-round draft pick by the Buccaneers in 1993, Lynch was a key member of Tampa Bay's defense, helping the 2002 team to a Super Bowl championship. He earned a reputation as one of the league's hardest-hitting safeties during his tenure with the Bucs and was a centerpiece of Tampa's "Cover Two" defensive scheme.
After playing his first 11 NFL seasons with the Bucs, Lynch joined the Broncos in 2004. He played the last four seasons with Denver, earning Pro Bowl berths each year.
Earlier this year, however, the Broncos parted ways with the 37-year-old Lynch because he was in line to see a reduction in playing time due to the emergence of Marlon McCree.
The Stanford product signed with New England in August but was released before the start of the regular season. He will retire with 26 interceptions, 13 sacks and 1,277 tackles in 224 regular season games.
