Justin Simmons Announces Retirement After 9 NFL Seasons, Made 2 Pro Bowls with Broncos

Two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons is officially retiring after nine NFL seasons.

Simmons, who last played in the NFL during the 2024 season with the Atlanta Falcons, will retire as a member of the Denver Broncos.

Simmons was drafted by the Broncos in 2016 and earned two Pro Bowl nods over eight years with the team prior to his lone season for the Falcons.

Simmons also received four second-team All-Pro nods with the Broncos, as well as three nominations for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

Drafted immediately after the Broncos' Super Bowl 50 win, Simmons played almost every single defensive snap for his final six seasons in Denver.

Simmons finished his tenure with the organization having racked up 604 tackles and 30 interceptions for 442 yards in 118 games.

Despite the Broncos' struggles over that stretch, Simmons established himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL. His 30 interceptions between 2016 and 2023 marked the most in the league over that span.

Simmons was ultimately released by the Broncos just before the franchise finally returned to the playoffs following the 2024 season.

The move cleared salary off the books of a team in need of space after taking on a historic dead cap charge to move on from quarterback Russell Wilson.

Simmons signed a one-year deal to play with the Falcons in 2024. Although he didn't sign with an NFL team last season despite expressing desire to play for a contender, Simmons said on a March episode of the Guerilla Sports podcast he hoped to play in 2026.

On an April episode of the podcast, Simmons added that he would "love to play in Denver again, but if not, even just to retire a Bronco would mean the world to me."

Simmons started out his career with four seasons as a defensive back at Boston College. Now 32, he will will retire from the NFL having recorded 666 tackles, 32 interceptions, 71 passes defensed and 4.5 sacks over 134 games and nine NFL seasons.