John Lynch
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected John Lynch out of Stanford in the third round, 82nd
choice overall, of the 1993 NFL Draft. A hard-hitting and smart playmaking safety, Lynch was a
vital addition to the Buccaneers defense that soon dominated the NFL.
He worked hard to earn a permanent starting role in 1996, his fourth pro season. Lynch
made the most of his opportunity as he racked up more than 100 tackles and tied his career-high
with three interceptions. From that point forward, he was the anchor of Tampa Bay’s secondary
on a defense that perennially ranked among the NFL’s best.
Lynch was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time following the 1997 season. It was the
first of nine Pro Bowls to which he was elected. He earned first-team All-Pro recognition three
straight years from 1999 to 2001.
In 2002, he was an integral part of the Buccaneers’ championship season that was
capped with the franchise’s first Super Bowl title. Lynch contributed 96 tackles (50 solo), three
interceptions, and 12 passes defensed as Tampa Bay finished 12-4. His strong play continued
through the postseason when he added five tackles in the divisional playoff, six more tackles in
the championship game and registered one tackle and pass defensed in the Buccaneers’ Super
Bowl XXXVII victory.
Lynch signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2004 where he played the final
four seasons of his 15-year career. He helped lead the Broncos to a conference championship
game appearance in his second season in Denver. That year he recorded a career-high four
sacks, intercepted two passes, forced four fumbles, and racked up 69 tackles. He added three
solo tackles, one assist and one pass defensed in the 1995 AFC Championship Game against
the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In all, Lynch played in 224 regular season games, recorded 26 interceptions returned for
204 yards, added 13 sacks, and registered more than 1,000 tackles. He was credited with 90 or
more tackles in a season nine times during his career.
John Lynch
Free Safety – 6-2, 214 – Stanford
1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos (15 playing seasons)
Biographical Background Full Name: John Terrence Lynch Birthdate: September 25, 1971 Birthplace: Hinsdale, Illinois High School: Torrey Pines (Encinitas, CA) Pro Career: 15 seasons, 224 games Drafted: 3rd round (82nd overall) in 1993 by Tampa Bay Career Statistics
Interceptions Sacks Year Team G No. Yds. Avg. TD No. 1993 Tampa Bay 15 – – 0.0 – 0.0 1994 Tampa Bay 16 – – 0.0 – 0.0 1995 Tampa Bay 9 3 3 1.0 0 0.0 1996 Tampa Bay 16 3 26 8.7 0 1.0 1997 Tampa Bay 16 2 28 14.0 0 0.0 1998 Tampa Bay 15 2 29 14.5 0 2.0 1999 Tampa Bay 16 2 32 16.0 0 0.5 2000 Tampa Bay 16 3 43 14.3 0 1.0 2001 Tampa Bay 16 3 21 7.0 0 1.0 2002 Tampa Bay 15 3 0 0.0 0 0.0 2003 Tampa Bay 14 2 18 9.0 0 0.5 2004 Denver 15 1 2 2.0 0 2.0 2005 Denver 16 2 2 1.0 0 4.0 2006 Denver 16 – – 0.0 – 0.0 2007 Denver 13 – – 0.0 – 1.0 Career Total 224 26 204 7.8 0 13.0
Additional Career Statistics: Rushing: 1-40; Kick Returns: 2-90
All-League Teams All-Pro: 1999 (AP, PFWA, SN) • 2000 (AP, PFWA, SN) • 2001 (PFWA)
All-Pro Second Team: 2001 (AP) • 2002 (AP) All-NFC: 1999 (PW) • 2000 (PW) • 2001 (PW) Pro Bowls
(9) – 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
John Lynch, Page 2 Team Records Buccaneers records held by Lynch (Records through the 2003 season, Lynch’s final season with Tampa Bay) • [2nd] Most Games, Career – 164 • [3rd] Most Tackles, Career – 973 Postseason Records • [Tied for 1st] Most Games, Career – 9 League/Team Statistical Titles Team Statistical Championships Sack Titles: 2005 Year-by-Year Team Records 1993 Tampa Bay ........................... 5-11-0 (5th) 1994 Tampa Bay ........................... 6-10-0 (5th) 1995 Tampa Bay ............................. 7-9-0 (5th) 1996 Tampa Bay ........................... 6-10-0 (4th) 1997 Tampa Bay .......................... 10-6-0 (2nd) 1998 Tampa Bay ............................. 8-8-0 (3rd) 1999 Tampa Bay .......................... 11-5-0 (1st) 2000 Tampa Bay .......................... 10-6-0 (2nd)
2001 Tampa Bay ............................. 9-7-0 (3rd) 2002 Tampa Bay ........................... 12-4-0 (1st) 2003 Tampa Bay ............................. 7-9-0 (3rd) 2004 Denver .................................. 10-6-0 (2nd) 2005 Denver .................................. 13-3-0 (1st) 2006 Denver .................................... 9-7-0 (3rd) 2007 Denver .................................... 7-9-0 (2nd)
(Division Finish in Parentheses) Qualified for Postseason in Bold Championship Games 1999 NFC – St. Louis Rams 11, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6
Lynch started at free safety. He had three solo tackles.
2002 NFC – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10 Lynch started at free safety. He had six solo tackles and one pass defensed.
2005 AFC – Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Denver Broncos 17
Lynch started at free safety. He had three solo tackles, one assisted tackle and one pass defensed.
Super Bowls
Super Bowl XXXVII – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21 Lynch started at free safety. He had one assisted tackle and one pass defensed.
John Lynch, Page 3
Media Guide Excerpts 2008 Denver Broncos Media Guide biography (after Lynch’s last season)
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John Lynch - game-by-game interception totals
Team Record in Games Lynch logged an INT 18-5-0
Tampa Bay Record in games Lynch logged an INT 16-4-0
Denver Record in games Lynch logged an INT 2-1-0
Date Opponent Result Score No Yds Avg LG TD
Oct. 8, 1995 Cincinnati W 19-16 1 3 3.0 3 0
Oct. 15, 1995 Minnesota W 20-17 2 0 0.0 0 0
Oct. 27, 1996 @ Green Bay L 7-13 1 1 1.0 1 0
Nov. 17, 1996 @ San Diego W 25-17 1 25 25.0 0 0
Nov. 24, 1996 New Orleans W 13-7 1 0 0.0 0 0
Sept. 28, 1997 Arizona W 19-18 1 0 0.0 0 0
Dec. 7, 1997 Green Bay L 6-17 1 28 28.0 0 0
Dec. 13, 1998 Pittsburgh W 16-3 2 29 14.5 17 0
Sept. 19, 1999 @ Philadelphia W 19-5 1 4 4.0 4 0
Dec. 12, 1999 Detroit W 23-16 1 28 28.0 28 0
Sept. 17, 2000 @ Detroit W 31-10 1 36 36.0 38 0
Dec. 18, 2000 St. Louis W 38-35 1 2 2.0 2 0
Dec. 24, 2000 @ Green Bay L 14-17 1 5 5.0 5 0
Sept. 9, 2001 @ Dallas W 10-6 1 4 4.0 4 0
Nov. 26, 2001 St. Louis W 24-17 1 15 15.0 15 0
Jan. 2, 2002 Philadelphia L 13-17 1 1 1.0 1 0
Oct. 27, 2002 @ Carolina W 12-9 2 0 0.0 0 0
Nov. 17, 2002 Carolina W 23-10 1 0 0.0 0 0
Sept. 21, 2003 @ Atlanta W 31-10 1 0 0.0 0 0
Nov. 24, 2003 New York Giants W 19-13 1 18 18.0 0 0
Nov. 28, 2004 Oakland L 24-25 1 2 2.0 2 0
Oct. 30, 2005 Philadelphia W 49-21 1 1 1.0 1 0
Nov. 20, 2005 New York Jets W 27-0 1 1 1.0 1 0