The Broncos are sure to have two ex-players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2021 after safety John Lynch was elected to Canton in his eight time as a finalist.
Lynch will join surefire first-ballot electee quarterback Peyton Manning (yet to be officially announced) as the 12th and 13th ex-Broncos to gain induction into Canton this year. Lynch also joins another Denver safety in Canton in Steve Atwater, who was elected last year.
Lynch played his first 11 years in Tampa Bay before finishing with four Pro Bowl years in Denver. He had 26 career interceptions, nine total Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro selections with the Buccaneers, for whom he was a pivotal part of the 2002 Super Bowl championship team. He might have been in Tampa Bay for his entire career, but the Buccaners elected to go a different direction to save money, leading Lynch to sign with Denver ahead of 2004.
The Stanford product and Hinsdale, Ill., native was originally selected by the Buccaneers in the third round (No. 82 overall) of the 1993 draft. He accumulated 1,059 career tackles, 68 passes defensed and 16 forced fumbles. He played all 16 games in six of his seasons and at least 14 games in 12 of his seasons.
The 49-year-old is tied for second among safeties in league history in Pro Bowl selections — only Ken Houston of Houston/Washington has more. Brian Dawkins and Ed Reed are each tied with Lynch’s nine selections for second among NFL safeties. Those three players are already enshrined.
In 2006, Lynch was presented with the Bart Starr Award, which recognizes a player who shows outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field and in the community.
After retiring following the 2007 season, Lynch served as a color analyst for FOX Sports from 2009-16 before the 49ers hired him as their general manager in February of 2017. Under Lynch’s guidance, San Francisco went to the Super Bowl last season before losing to the Chiefs, and he was named 2019 Executive of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America.
While Lynch’s election comes as somewhat of a surprise this year — especially considering the strength of the first-ballot candidates led by Manning, cornerback Charles Woodson and wide receiver Calvin Johnson — it was also somewhat of an inevitability considering his history as a finalist. Including Lynch, 10 players in league history have been named finalists at least eight consecutive years, with only one player yet to be enshrined from that group.
This story will be updated.
