Denver will always be Justin Simmons’ home, “they took a chance on me” originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
On Wednesday, Justin Simmons announced his retirement, exactly 10 years after being drafted. The Denver Broncos’ official X account shared his retirement quote:
“Being a Denver Bronco was more than just a team. It was my heart, my home and my story.”
"I would just love to be remembered as not just a Bronco, but just a man that gave his all to the team, the city," he said.
"I'm always going to be a Bronco, and I'm always going to be a Broncos fan. They took a chance on me, extended me. This is my home."
“Being a Denver Bronco was more than just a team. It was my heart, my home and my story.”Exactly 10 years to the day we drafted him, All-Pro safety @jsimms1119 is retiring a Bronco: pic.twitter.com/rOZbocQU5o
Denver selected Simmons in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft with their final pick. He joined the defending Super Bowl champions and a locker room full of personalities, learning from the star-studded “No Fly Zone” secondary. Simmons entered training camp as a backup safety but impressed the coaching staff enough to quickly earn his place.
On Nov. 13, 2016, Simmons leapt over the offensive line to block New Orleans Saints kicker Wil Lutz’s extra point attempt. Had the kick been successful, the Saints would have taken a 24–23 lead. Instead, Simmons timed it perfectly, and teammate Will Parks returned the ball 84 yards for the game-winning score.
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Simmons patrolled the defensive backfield and became the only NFL player to record at least three interceptions in every season from 2018 to 2023. He finished his career with 32 interceptions, seventh-most in team history. Notably, Simmons intercepted Patrick Mahomes six times - more than any other player.
Looking back 15–20 years in Denver’s history, names like John Lynch and Brian Dawkins stand out. Lynch spent four seasons in Denver, making the Pro Bowl each year, while Dawkins played three seasons. While Lynch and Dawkins were great safeties overall, Simmons’ body of work in Denver arguably surpasses theirs.
Simmons became just the second player in franchise history to be nominated three times for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award. He volunteered more than 3,500 minutes with 20 local organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs and Children’s Hospital Colorado.
In recent years, Simmons was franchise-tagged twice (2020 and 2021). In March 2021, the Broncos signed him to a four-year, $61 million extension - the highest mark for a safety at the time. But in March 2024, after releasing Russell Wilson, the Broncos also released Simmons for cap compliance. He spent his final season with the Atlanta Falcons, starting all 16 games.
Now, Justin Simmons will sit in the stands cheering for the team he once led. As he said himself, Denver will always be his home.
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