Justin Simmons retires as Bronco, ‘grateful’ for send-off from team

Englewood, Colo.–10 years to the day denver broncos selected a boston college safety name Justin Simmons With the final selection of the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he formally retired from the NFL on Wednesday.

Simmons, who played eight seasons for the Broncos and one season with atlanta falconsSaid he was “very grateful and appreciative” of the farewell in front of his family and various members of the Broncos, but in some ways “it’s more than I deserve.”

He previously announced he was retiring as a Bronco In a post on InstagramSaying in an accompanying video, “Being a Denver Bronco was more than just a team. It was my heart, my home, and my story.”

Simmons, selected with the No. 98 pick in the 2016 draft, played 118 games with the Broncos (108 starts), was selected to two Pro Bowls, was a four-time second-team All-Pro and ranked sixth in franchise history in interceptions, with 30 of his 32 career interceptions coming in a Broncos uniform.

His 32 interceptions are second new England Patriots‘ Kevin Byrd Since 2016.

However, his tenure began the season after the team’s last Super Bowl appearance – Super Bowl 50 to end the 2015 season – and ended before back-to-back playoff appearances the previous two seasons.

Simmons’ time in Denver coincided with the franchise’s longest playoff drought since the Broncos’ time in the AFL and included high player turnover, short coaching tenures, and several seasons of struggle along the way. He was one of the team’s permanent players at the time, however, an important voice in the locker room, one of its best players on the field, and a prominent presence in the community.

He said on Wednesday that the fans’ reaction to the news of his retirement will always be memorable for him.

“It was a tough eight years,” Simmons said. “…it hurt not being able to [make the playoffs]. I was a secure person, there’s only so much I can control, but I just felt like a lot was asked of me and I felt like I missed out.

“I felt like I let a lot of people down…for me to see this kind of reaction [Wednesday]It’s more than I deserve, it’s heartwarming, I’m grateful, I’m blessed, I’m honored. …I want to be remembered for how I helped make lives better. …I don’t take any of this lightly.”

He was a three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year with the Broncos for his off-the-field efforts, including his extensive work at the Denver Boys & Girls Club. He was also the captain of the team three times.

Hall of Fame Broncos safety Steve Atwater introduced Simmons in a ceremony at the Broncos’ south suburban campus on Wednesday. Simmons said that when he arrived in Denver as a 22-year-old rookie he was already aware of the franchise’s history at safety with Hall of Famers like Atwater, John Lynch and Brian Dawkins, as well as team Ring of Fame members Dennis Smith, Steve Foley and Gus Gonsolin.

“I tried my best with what we were going through, and that was a lot,” Simmons said. “… I hope the legacy that was left was of a person who really cared, was passionate, I wanted to do well. … I was just trying to be the best version of myself. … I was trying my best.”

The Broncos released Simmons in 2024 in a salary cap-related move, and he later signed with the Falcons. He started 16 games for Atlanta that season and finished with two interceptions. Simmons did not play last season and said Wednesday that he had a short list of teams he would have played for in 2025, but those opportunities did not come.

He finished his career with 666 tackles, 71 passes defensed and five forced fumbles in 134 games (124 starts).

Simmons, 32, said Wednesday he will spend more time with his family, work with his foundation and start meeting people and “picking his brain” as he plans a bigger career after football. However, in the short term, he said there was already a game-day plan for the next Broncos season.

“I can’t wait to go to the game and tailgate,” Simmons said. “I never did it.”