Justin Simmons retires 10 years after being drafted: ‘I’ll always be a Denver Bronco’
Exactly 10 years after Denver drafted him, Justin Simmons announced that he's retiring from the NFL as a Bronco.
Exactly 10 years to the day after the Denver Broncos called his name in the third round (98th overall) of the 2016 NFL draft, safety Justin Simmons decided that now is the time to hang up his cleats. The Broncos released a five-minute video on Wednesday, narrated by Simmons, thanking fans for standing by him. "My time here in Denver literally shaped me into the man that I am," Simmons said.
"To the best fans in the world and Broncos Country, thank you so much for all your support for both me and my family... Right when I got drafted, I didn't know how high the standard was. To hear about how amazing the organization is, the Bronco greats that have exuded excellence both on and off the field, so I hope I left that legacy intact.
It is one I didn't take lightly. " “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 Broncos (@Broncos) April 29, 2026 Simmons recalled sacking Tom Brady as one of his favorite moments as a Bronco , in a 16-3 loss during his rookie season.