ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Ten years to the day from when the Denver Broncos selected a Boston College safety named Justin Simmons with the final pick of the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, he said his formal goodbye to the NFL on Wednesday.
Simmons, who played eight seasons for the Broncos and one with the Atlanta Falcons, said that he was "so grateful and appreciative" for the send-off, in front of his family and assorted members of the Broncos but that in some ways "it is more than I deserve."
He had earlier announced he was retiring as a Bronco in a post to Instagram, saying in an accompanying video that, "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 in 118 games with the Broncos (108 starts), was chosen for two Pro Bowls, was a second-team All-Pro four times and finished sixth in franchise history in interceptions, with 30 of his 32 career interceptions coming in a Broncos uniform.
His 32 interceptions are second only to the New England Patriots' Kevin Byard since 2016.
His tenure, however, began the season after the team's last Super Bowl appearance -- Super Bowl 50 to close out the 2015 season -- and ended before the back-to-back playoff appearances of the last 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 a string of seasons of struggle along the way. He was one of the team's constants in that 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 Wednesday that the reaction from fans about the news of his retirement would always be memorable for him.
"It was a hard eight years," Simmons said. "... It hurt not to be able to [make the playoffs]. I was a safety, there's only so much I can control, but I just felt like there was a lot asked and I feel like I fell short.
"I felt like I let a lot of people down ... to see that type of reaction for me [Wednesday], it's more than I deserve, it's heartwarming, I'm thankful, I'm blessed, I'm honored. ... I want to be able to be remembered for how I helped improve lives. ... I don't take any of it for granted."
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 also was a three-time team captain.
Hall of Fame Broncos safety Steve Atwater introduced Simmons at a ceremony Wednesday at the Broncos' south suburban complex. Simmons said that when he arrived in Denver as a 22-year-old rookie he already knew the franchise's history of safeties with Hall of Famers like Atwater, John Lynch and Brian Dawkins as well as team ring of fame members Dennis Smith, Steve Foley and Goose Gonsoulin.
"I did my best with what we were going through, and it was a lot," Simmons said. "... I hope the legacy that was left was a guy who actually did care, 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 that those opportunities didn't arise.
He finished his career with 666 tackles, 71 passes defended and five forced fumbles in 134 games (124 starts).
Simmons, 32, said Wednesday that he will spend more time with his family, work with his foundation, and begin to meet with people and "pick their brains" to plan a bigger post-football career. In the short term, however, he said already had a game-day plan for the next Broncos season.
"I can't wait to go to a game and tailgate," Simmons said. "I've never done that."
