DENVER BRONCOS PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME FINALIST
CONFERENCE CALL QUOTES (1/7/16)
SAFETY JOHN LYNCH
On if momentum is building for him to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
“You sure hope so. Every time that this has happened to me, whether it be any list for the Hall of Fame, I think the feelings are
more just privilege to be a part of the process. As the voters know better than anyone, at this point, I think that you have a
feeling that any one of those 15 is deserving. I think, if you’ve gotten this far, that you certainly are. They have a tough decision
[to make]. Again, I’m just extremely privileged. You’d hope that the more times that you keep banging on the door that,
eventually, you bust right through. That’s why this thing is also a little challenging because you have nothing to do with it at this
point. Your resume has already been written. There’s not a whole lot that you can do other than sit back and try to enjoy, feel
blessed and privileged that you’ve been a part of those other great names that are there with you.”
On the lack of safeties in the Hall of Fame
“I think that’s the sentiment that I feel most strongly about. I’ve communicated when asked by the Hall of Fame writers. I think
this something that needs to change. That argument really doesn’t hold water with me. Maybe at one point, that position was
one that wasn’t of great importance in football and on defenses. I think as anyone has seen the position evolve. That’s where I
feel fairly good about being a part of that position changing. It was called safety for a reason because early in football, they were
just kind of the last line of defense. I’ll never forget getting to Tampa and [Former Tampa Bay Head Coach] Tony Dungy said, ‘Hey
we’re going to do some neat things and really change the way that this position has been played. We’re going to blitz you. We’re
going to play you down in the box. We’re also going to play you back. We’re going to cover you.’ That’s why I think it’s such an
impactful position. All you have to do is turn on the playoffs. Anytime over the last 10, 15, 20 years you tend to see a safety
taking over the playoffs because you can at that position because you’re featured in so many different ways. I think it takes a
great skill. When people say, ‘It’s just hard. There aren’t many safeties,’ well, I say that needs to change. Whether it’s me or
someone else, I think that should be a priority for the Hall voters.”
On being a finalist with two other former Broncos
“It would be awesome [to enter the Hall of Fame with other Broncos]. I’m a huge proponent of [Former Broncos RB] Terrell
Davis’ case. He’s a fellow San Diego guy, so I’ve always followed him, but I’ve played against him, more importantly I think for his
case. I saw what a tremendous player [he was]. I thought he was the best one going for years. I know there’s the argument about
longevity, but I think there are other guys in the Hall of Fame [that played] around the same time and he’s been more
productive. I think the voters do a great job, but I think one thing that the voters should always keep in mind is to ask the players.
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The players really know. The players that played against these people. You talk about a dominant player, a dominant back and a
guy who was the best at what he did for a long time. I don’t know what that period was, but I know that it extended more than
just one year. It was a couple, three or four years where I thought that he was the best going. With [Former Broncos S] Steve
[Atwater], he was always a guy—I’ll never forget when I got down to Tampa and that staff was a beautiful staff with Tony Dungy,
[Former Tampa Bay Defensive Coordinator] Monte Kiffin and [Former Tampa Bay Defensive Backs Coach] Herm Edwards was my
DB coach. The first thing Herm Edwards did was pull out a tape of Steve Atwater and said, ‘This is how we envision you playing.’
It was a highlight tape of Steve Atwater doing what he did and did so well. It was a big selling point when I came to Denver.
[Former Broncos Head Coach] Mike Shanahan said, ‘You’re following in the footsteps of a place that has tremendous safety
tradition. He talked about [Former Broncos S] Dennis Smith. He talked about, I think even before Dennis, [Former Broncos S]
Steve Foley, Dennis Smith and Steve Atwater. That was appealing to me because I really value the history of this game. Boy, if we
could all somehow sneak in, that would be wonderful. It would be a great deal, but I’m just happy for the Denver Broncos that
they’re so well-represented. I think it’s a great organization. I’m just proud to be included with those guys.”
On the move to safety at Stanford
“[Former Stanford Head Coach] Bill [Walsh] was my coach my senior year at Stanford. I moved [to safety] my junior year and that
was [Former Stanford Head Coach Dennis] Denny Green. Denny was a part of that decision, but really it was kind of a talk where I
was going to head towards baseball and just focus on that because that was going really well. I wasn’t upset, I wasn’t mad, but I
said, ‘Hey, I have to focus on where my bread is going to be buttered.’ At that point, baseball was looking very promising. I had
this talk with Denny Green and he kind of just said, ‘What is it that you’re looking for?’ I just said, ‘Ah, I’m just going to go play
baseball.’ [He said,] ‘Well, what would it take to keep you on the football field?’ I said, ‘Oh, I just want to play. I’m tired of sitting.’
The next thing you know, he threw out outside linebacker and I said, ‘No, but how about safety?’ It didn’t go unbelievable well
that first year. I started some and was benched. I played about 40 percent of the snaps, but it was Bill Walsh that following year
when I had signed professionally in baseball and really thought it was time now to focus my attention there. Bill came in, and he
had watched all of my tape, he called me up and said, ‘Look, you have a great opportunity with the Marlins, but we want you to
come back and also play football at Stanford because I think you can be an All-Pro player. I think you can be a Pro Bowl player at
safety.’ I thought he was crazy because I had only played about 40 percent of the snaps for one year, but he saw something. It
was a famous story. He not only said it, but he had a tape of [Former San Francisco Safety] Ronnie Lott and he would show a play
of him and then a play of me doing something similar. After that meeting, I was determined and hell-bent on becoming a great
one. I always thank Coach Walsh for him believing in me and for him making me believe in myself.”
On how much Walsh talked him up to Sam Wyche before being drafted
“On draft day, it didn’t go well. I thought I may be a late first-rounder and had calls around that time and then it didn’t go where I
thought it would. It was Bill who finally got on the phone and basically said, ‘Sam, if you don’t take this guy, you’re a fool.’ Next
thing you know Sam Wyche was calling and took me. He (Walsh) was, in many ways, responsible for me getting into the league.
He believed in me. He always did. There was time early in my career in Tampa when things weren’t going great—it never really
got out—Bill was involved with the 49ers and was actively trying to trade and acquire me. We had discussions and whatnot. He
always believed in me. People like that, that’s pretty special.”
©2016 Denver Broncos Football Club. All rights reserved. The individual quotes cited in this document may be used for the purpose of news reporting and other
fair uses as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act. Duplication or posting of this quote sheet, in its entirety, or any other use of this material which is not a
fair use as defined by Section 107 of the Copyright Act is strictly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Denver Broncos Football Club.