Ten years to the day after being selected by the Denver Broncos in the 2016 NFL Draft, Justin Simmons has officially announced his retirement from professional football. The safety ended his career at a ceremony on Wednesday – as a Broncos player.
Simmons, who spent eight seasons in Denver and one with the Atlanta Falcons, was emotional: He was “very grateful” for the farewell with his family and companions, even if it felt “more than he deserved.”
The 32-year-old had previously announced his resignation via Instagram and emphasized that the Broncos were “more than just a team” for him: “They were my heart, my home and my history.”
Simmons came to Denver as the 98th pick in the 2016 draft and quickly became a fixture. In 118 games (108 starts) for the Broncos, he collected 30 of his 32 total interceptions. League-wide, he has been just behind Kevin Byard in interceptions since 2016.
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NFL career ended – “It was a tough eight years”
In terms of sport, however, his time fell during a difficult phase for the Broncos: After the triumph in Super Bowl 50, the team missed the playoffs for years. During this time, Simmons was a leader, team captain and an important voice in the locker room.
“It was a tough eight years,” he said looking back. “It hurt to miss the playoffs. I felt like I let a lot of people down.”
In addition to his sporting achievements, Simmons has also received several awards for his social commitment. He was a Broncos internal candidate for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award three times.
After being released in 2024 for salary cap reasons, Simmons joined the Falcons, for whom he played 16 games. He was no longer on the field last season. There were no offers for another year.
He finished his career with strong numbers: 666 tackles, 71 passes defended, five forced fumbles and 32 interceptions in 134 games (124 starts).
In the future, Simmons plans to spend more time with his family and devote more time to his foundation. He also wants to reorient himself professionally.
A first goal has already been set: “I’m looking forward to going to a Broncos game and taking part in tailgating,” he said with a smile. “I’ve never done that before.”