If you are a fan of American football, you may have wondered if John Lynch and Paxton Lynch are related. After all, they share the same last name and both played quarterback in the NFL. However, the truth is that they are not related at all. They are just two players who happen to have a common surname.
John Lynch is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Broncos, but he failed to live up to his potential and was released after two seasons. He then bounced around different teams and leagues, trying to revive his career. He is currently playing for the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
Paxton Lynch is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, and New England Patriots. He was drafted in the third round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers, but he was traded to the Broncos after one season. He spent most of his career as a backup to John Elway, but he also started some games and won a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos in 1997. He retired after the 1998 season and became a broadcaster for Fox Sports. He is currently the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers.
How They Became Quarterbacks
John Lynch was born in San Antonio, Texas, on February 12, 1994. He grew up playing basketball and football at Trinity Christian Academy in Deltona, Florida. He was a three-star recruit who committed to play college football at Memphis. He had a stellar college career, throwing for 8,865 yards, 59 touchdowns, and 23 interceptions in three seasons. He also set several school records and was named the MVP of the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl.
Paxton Lynch was born in Northern Ireland on December 26, 1961. He moved to County Armagh with his family when he was seven years old. He grew up playing Gaelic football and hurling at St. Colman’s College in Newry. He was also interested in acting and appeared in several plays and films. He decided to pursue a career in acting and moved to London when he was 18 years old. He enrolled at the Central School of Speech and Drama, where he met his future wife Mary McGuckian.
However, Lynch’s acting career did not take off as he hoped. He struggled to find roles and became frustrated with the industry. He decided to switch careers and try his luck at American football. He had never played the sport before, but he was fascinated by it after watching some games on TV. He joined a local amateur team and learned the basics of playing quarterback. He impressed some scouts with his size, arm strength, and athleticism. He earned a scholarship to play college football at Eastern Michigan University.
Their NFL Careers
John Lynch entered the 2016 NFL Draft as one of the top quarterback prospects. He was projected to be a first-round pick by many analysts and teams. The Denver Broncos traded up to select him with the 26th overall pick, hoping he would be their franchise quarterback of the future. However, Lynch struggled to adapt to the NFL level and compete for the starting job. He played in just five games in his rookie season, throwing for 497 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
In his second season, Lynch suffered a shoulder injury in the preseason that sidelined him for several weeks. He returned to action in Week 12, but he injured his ankle in his first start of the year against the Oakland Raiders. He missed the rest of the season and finished with 295 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in two games.
The Broncos decided to move on from Lynch after the 2017 season. They released him on September 1, 2018, making him one of the biggest draft busts in recent history. Lynch signed with the Seattle Seahawks on January 17, 2019, but he was waived on August 31, 2019. He then joined the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 17, 2019, but he did not play a single snap for them.
Lynch decided to try his luck in Canada and signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL on February 2, 2021. However, he did not make an impact there either. He was released by the Roughriders on February 23, 2022.
Lynch did not give up on his football dream and joined the new United States Football League (USFL) on February 23, 2022. He was drafted by the Michigan Panthers in Round 12 of their inaugural draft. However, he did not last long there either. He was traded to the Orlando Guardians on March 15, 2022.
Lynch finally found some stability and success with the Guardians. He became their starting quarterback and led them to a 9-3 record and a playoff berth. He threw for 2,764 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 12 games. He also rushed for 312 yards and four touchdowns.
Lynch’s performance caught the attention of the XFL, which was relaunching in 2023. He was drafted by the San Antonio Brahmas in Round 5 of their inaugural draft on April 15, 2023. He is currently the Brahmas’ starting quarterback and has led them to a 4-2 record so far. He has thrown for 1,456 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions in six games. He has also rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
Paxton Lynch entered the 1992 NFL Draft as a sleeper pick. He was not highly rated by most analysts and teams, but he had some intriguing traits and potential. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him with the 82nd overall pick, hoping he could develop into a solid backup or a possible starter. However, Lynch did not impress the Buccaneers’ coaching staff and saw limited action in his rookie season. He played in just three games, throwing for 103 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
The Buccaneers traded Lynch to the Denver Broncos on April 25, 1993, for a fourth-round pick in the 1994 NFL Draft. The Broncos were looking for a young quarterback to groom behind their veteran star John Elway. Lynch became Elway’s backup and learned from him for several years. He also got some opportunities to play when Elway was injured or rested.
Lynch’s best season came in 1997, when he started four games for the Broncos while Elway was sidelined with a rib injury. He led the Broncos to a 4-0 record in those games, throwing for 1,018 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception. He also helped the Broncos clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Lynch returned to his backup role when Elway recovered, but he still contributed to the Broncos’ Super Bowl run. He played in two playoff games, throwing for 120 yards and one touchdown. He also earned a Super Bowl ring when the Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII.
Lynch played one more season with the Broncos in 1998, but he did not see much action. He played in just two games, throwing for 26 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions. He also earned another Super Bowl ring when the Broncos defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII.
Lynch decided to retire after the 1998 season at the age of 37. He finished his NFL career with 2,049 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions in 31 games (eight starts). He also rushed for 66 yards and one touchdown.
Lynch pursued a career in broadcasting after his retirement. He joined Fox Sports as an analyst and commentator for NFL games. He also hosted his own radio show on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
Lynch left Fox Sports in January 2017 to become the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers. He replaced Trent Baalke, who was fired after a dismal 2-14 season. Lynch hired Kyle Shanahan as the new head coach and began rebuilding the team.
Lynch has made some bold moves as the 49ers’ GM, such as trading for Jimmy Garoppolo, drafting Nick Bosa, signing Richard Sherman, and trading up to select Trey Lance. He has also faced some challenges, such as dealing with injuries, controversies, and expectations.
Lynch has led the 49ers to a 36-28 record and two playoff appearances in his four seasons as GM so far. His best season came in 2019, when he guided the team to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance. The team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV.
Lynch is currently preparing for his fifth season as GM of the 49ers. He is hoping to lead the team back to the Super Bowl and win his third ring as an executive.
Conclusion
John Lynch and Paxton Lynch are not related at all. They are just two quarterbacks who share a common last name and played in the NFL. They have very different backgrounds, careers, and achievements.
John Lynch is a former first-round bust who never lived up to his potential and bounced around different teams and leagues. He is currently playing for the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
Paxton Lynch is a former third-round pick who spent most of his career as a backup to John Elway and won two Super Bowl rings with the Denver Broncos. He retired after eight seasons and became a broadcaster and then a general manager of the San Francisco 49ers.
The only thing they have in common is their passion for football and their desire to succeed in their chosen fields.
