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The Denver Broncos took a flyer on quarterback Paxton Lynch during the 2016 NFL Draft, selecting him in the first round that year in one of the biggest shockers of the event.
However, the former Memphis Tigers standout would only play five NFL games before bouncing around the league from practice squad to practice squad. He was last seen on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ roster in 2020.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch throws a pass against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on August 30, 2018. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)
Attempting to find a route back to the NFL, Lynch landed with the Colorado Spartans of the National Arena League before the 2026 season. He was in his third game with the Spartans when he suffered a torn LCL.
“I was p—ed off,” he told the Denver Post. “And it stinks. I didn’t want it to be like this.”
Lynch seemed to take solace in being able to play again — even if it was in an indoor soccer league. He suggested he was up for the challenge.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Paxton Lynch practices at Heinz Field during the Steelers 2020 training camp on August 4, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
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“I thought, ‘OK, if I play this year in arena football, I’m going to play like Paxton Lynch. I want to have full confidence in myself. I don’t really care.’ And that’s what I did,” he told the newspaper.
“It felt good to do it again.”
He had three touchdown passes in three games with Colorado. Javin Kilgo replaced him at quarterback. Through five games, Colorado is 2-3.
Orlando Guardians quarterback Paxton Lynch drops back to pass against the Houston Roughnecks in the first quarter at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 18, 2023. (Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports)
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Lynch told the Denver Post he wasn’t sure if he wanted to play in 2027, but if the National Arena League is where his career ended, he said he was fine with that.
