Aaron Lynch (American football)
{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1993)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Aaron Lynch
| image = Bears at Redskins 2019, Aaron Lynch (48790913816) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Lynch with the Chicago Bears in 2019
| currentteam =
| number =
| position = Defensive end
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|2|8}}
| birth_place = Cape Coral, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 285
| high_school = Island Coast
(Cape Coral, Florida)
| college = Notre Dame (2011)
South Florida (2012–2013)
| draftyear = 2014
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 150
| pastteams =
- San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2017}})
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2018}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2020}})
- Montreal Alouettes ({{CFL Year|2024}})*
| highlights =
- First-team All-AAC (2013)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 111
| statlabel2 = Sacks
| statvalue2 = 21.0
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 1
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 = 1
| statlabel5 = Pass deflections
| statvalue5 = 11
| pfr = LyncAa00
}}
Aaron Lynch (born March 8, 1993) is an American professional football defensive end. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He played college football at South Florida and Notre Dame.
Early life
Lynch attended Island Coast High School in Cape Coral, Florida.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Lynch's High School Timeline |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/aaron-lynch/InMD0PTmEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm |access-date=September 10, 2019 |website=MaxPreps.com |language=en}} He led the team to 11–2 record and Florida 2B state semifinal playoff appearance as senior in 2010. He also recorded 31 solo tackles and 10.5 sacks during senior campaign. He played in the U.S Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas in 2011.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Lynch was listed as the No. 3 defensive end in the nation.[https://sports.yahoo.com/notredame/football/recruiting/player-Aaron-Lynch-107934 Aaron Lynch – Yahoo Sports] After de-committing from Florida State, he re-committed to Notre Dame over offers from Florida and Miami.[http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/recruiting/notre-dame-football-recruiting/3980-aaron-lynch-commits-to-notre-dame Aaron Lynch Commits To Notre Dame] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201175134/http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/recruiting/notre-dame-football-recruiting/3980-aaron-lynch-commits-to-notre-dame |date=February 1, 2014 }}
College career
In 2011, Lynch enrolled a semester early at Notre Dame and was able to participate in spring practice. He worked his way onto the second-team and dominated in the annual Blue-Gold game.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2011 |title=Five things we learned: The 82nd Blue-Gold game |url=http://irish.nbcsports.com/2011/04/16/five-things-we-learned-the-82nd-blue-gold-game/ |access-date=September 10, 2019 |website=Inside the Irish |language=en-US}} In his freshman season, he played in 12 games, starting in 6 of them. He recorded 33 tackles including 7 tackles for loss, a team high 5.5 sacks, and a team high of 14 quarterback hurries. He was awarded a 1st team selection on The 11th annual Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team.[http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2011/allamerica120109.html FWAA NAMES 2011 FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA TEAM]
In April 2012, Lynch decided to transfer from Notre Dame, citing a desire to return closer to his home.{{cite web | last=Fortuna | first=Matt | title=Notre Dame freshman DE Lynch to transfer | website=ESPN.com | date=2012-04-13 | url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/ncf/story/_/id/7809682/defensive-end-aaron-lynch-transferring-notre-dame | access-date=2024-09-09}} After pondering his options, he announced his transfer to USF.{{cite web | last=Fortuna | first=Matt | title=South Florida adding ex-Notre Dame DE Lynch | website=ESPN.com | date=2012-04-23 | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/7847127/south-florida-bulls-adding-former-notre-dame-fighting-irish-de-aaron-lynch | access-date=2024-09-09}} He applied for a waiver to play immediately but the NCAA denied his request, forcing him to sit out the 2012 season.{{Cite web |last=Auman |first=Greg |date=August 23, 2012 |title=NCAA denies hardship waiver for USF Bulls transfer Aaron Lynch |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/ncaa-denies-hardship-waiver-for-usf-bulls-transfer-aaron-lynch/1247338/ |access-date=September 10, 2019 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}
As a junior, Lynch led the Bulls with six sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, playing in all 12 games. He finished with 30 total tackles and added a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown in a 13–10 win over the Connecticut Huskies.{{Cite web |last=Eaton-Robb |first=Pat |date=October 12, 2013|agency=Associated Press |title=USF slips past UConn, 13–10 |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20131012/usf-slips-past-uconn-13-10 |access-date=September 11, 2019 |website=Daytona Beach News-Journal}} Lynch had a strong finish to the season despite the Bulls' 3–9 record, totaling all six sacks in the last seven games.{{Cite web |title=2013 South Florida Bulls Schedule and Results |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/south-florida/2013-schedule.html |access-date=September 11, 2019 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}
Lynch announced in December 2013 that he would declare for the 2014 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Fortuna |first=Matt |date=December 17, 2013 |title=South Florida DE Lynch declares for draft |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10152225/de-aaron-lynch-south-florida-bulls-declares-nfl-draft |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 5
| weight = 249
| dash = 4.69
| ten split = 1.52
| twenty split = 2.63
| shuttle = 4.61
| cone drill = 7.46
| vertical = 29.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 9
| bench = 18
| arm span = 34
| hand span = 10¼
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine & Pro Day{{Cite web |last=Nawrocki |first=Nolan |title=Aaron Lynch Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/aaron-lynch/32004c59-4e06-2058-4e72-7a4dad2e318d |access-date=July 5, 2021 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |title=Aaron Lynch, South Florida, DE, 2014 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=119369&DraftYear=2014 |access-date=July 5, 2021 |website=draftscout.com}}
}}
=San Francisco 49ers=
File:Aaron Lynch (American football).JPG
Lynch was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round with the 150th overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft.{{Cite web |last=Price |first=Taylor |date=May 10, 2014 |title=San Francisco 49ers Draft USF LB Aaron Lynch |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/san-francisco-49ers-draft-usf-lb-aaron-lynch-12994879 |access-date=July 3, 2017 |website=49ers.com}}
Lynch was given an opportunity and assisted on four tackles and made two solo tackles on November 9 against the New Orleans Saints. His six tackles in addition to his pass defended helped the 49ers excel in an overtime battle to defeat the Saints and remain in the playoff picture. Lynch finished his rookie season recording 23 tackles, six sacks, and four passes defensed with three starts in 16 appearances.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Lynch 2014 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncAa00/gamelog/2014/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2015 season, he appeared in 14 games and started all but one of them. He had 6.5 sacks, 38 total tackles, and three passes defensed.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Lynch 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncAa00/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=September 11, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was suspended for the first four games of the 2016 season for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2016 |title=Aaron Lynch banned 4 games for violating substance abuse policy |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17084995/aaron-lynch-san-francisco-49ers-suspended-4-games-violating-substance-abuse-policy |access-date=September 11, 2019 |website=ESPN.com}} He appeared in seven games and started three in the 2016 season. He recorded 1.5 sacks and 13 total tackles.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Lynch 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncAa00/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=September 11, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2017 season, Lynch did not appear in the season opener with back injury. He played in the next five games before suffering a calf injury against the Washington Redskins in Week 6, which sidelined him until Week 14.{{Cite web |date=October 15, 2017|agency=Associated Press |title=Cousins inconsistent as Redskins hold on to beat 49ers |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/10/15/cousins-struggles-as-redskins-barely-hold-on-to-beat-49ers/106692158/ |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} He had one sack, nine total tackles, and one fumble recovery.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Lynch 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncAa00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=September 11, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
=Chicago Bears=
On March 15, 2018, Lynch signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears.{{Cite web |last=Wiltfong Jr. |first=Lester A. |date=March 15, 2018 |title=Chicago Bears sign Aaron Lynch |url=https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2018/3/15/17127372/chicago-bears-sign-aaron-lynch-free-agency-san-francisco-49ers-nfl-outside-linebacker-vic-fangio |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=WindyCityGridiron.com}}{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=March 15, 2018 |title=Bears bolster defense by signing Lynch |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-bolster-defense-by-signing-lynch-20457956 |website=ChicagoBears.com |access-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-date=May 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526113631/https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-bolster-defense-by-signing-lynch-20457956 |url-status=dead }} He played in 13 games with three starts, recording 16 tackles, three sacks, and an interception.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Lynch 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncAa00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=September 10, 2019 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On April 1, 2019, Lynch re-signed with the Bears.{{Cite web |last=Mayer |first=Larry |date=April 1, 2019 |title=Bears ink Aaron Lynch to one-year deal |url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/bears-ink-aaron-lynch-to-one-year-deal |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=ChicagoBears.com}}
In Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, Lynch recorded one tackle and sacked Aaron Rodgers once as the Bears lost 10–3.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2019 |title=Packers D, Aaron Rodgers beat Bears 10–3 in opener |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameId=401127913 |access-date=September 5, 2019 |website=ESPN.com |agency=Associated Press}}
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
On May 5, 2020, Lynch signed a one-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.{{Cite web |date=May 5, 2020 |title=Jaguars Sign Defensive End Aaron Lynch |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/jaguars-sign-defensive-end-aaron-lynch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721172834/https://www.jaguars.com/news/jaguars-sign-defensive-end-aaron-lynch |archive-date=July 21, 2020 |access-date=May 5, 2020 |website=Jaguars.com}} He retired from football on August 18, citing personal reasons.{{Cite web |last=Oehser |first=John |date=August 17, 2020 |title=Lynch to be placed on reserve/retired list |url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/lynch-to-be-placed-on-reserve-retired-list |access-date=August 18, 2020 |website=Jaguars.com}}{{Cite web |date=August 18, 2020 |title=NFL training camp 2020: Injuries abound, Brady's biggest fan and a sleeping Titan awakens |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29688470/nfl-training-camp-2020-injuries-abound-brady-biggest-fan-sleeping-titan-awakens |access-date=August 19, 2020 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} After two months of retirement, on October 21, Lynch was reinstated back to the Jaguars' active roster.{{Cite web |last=DiRocco |first=Mike |date=October 21, 2020 |title=DE Lynch ending retirement to rejoin Jaguars |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30163975/aaron-lynch-ending-retirement-re-join-jacksonville-jaguars |access-date=July 28, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
In Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns, Lynch recorded his first sack as a Jaguar on Baker Mayfield during the 27–25 loss.{{Cite web |title=Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars – November 29th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202011290jax.htm |access-date=December 2, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On March 18, 2024, after three years of inactivity, Lynch had a workout with the Cleveland Browns.{{cite web | last=Simmons | first=Myles | title=Report: Aaron Lynch has workout with Browns | website=NBC Sports | date=2024-03-18 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-aaron-lynch-has-workout-with-browns | access-date=2024-09-09}}
On May 10, 2024, Lynch was listed on the roster for the 2024 Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp roster.{{Cite web |last=Stites |first=Adam |date=2024-05-10 |title=Former NFL DE Aaron Lynch participating in Dolphins rookie minicamp |url=https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2024/05/10/aaron-lynch-dolphins-rookie-minicamp-2024-tryout-bears-49ers-jaguars/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Dolphins Wire|publisher=USA Today |language=en-US}}
=Montreal Alouettes=
On May 20, 2024, it was announced that Lynch had signed with the Montreal Alouettes.{{Cite web|title=Montreal Alouettes sign longtime NFL DL Aaron Lynch |url=https://3downnation.com/2024/05/20/montreal-alouettes-sign-longtime-nfl-dl-aaron-lynch/ |publisher=Montreal Alouettes |date=May 20, 2024}} He was released on June 2.{{cite web | url=https://www.cfl.ca/transactions/ | title=Transactions - Football Player Trades and Signings }}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2014 | SFO
| 16 || 3 || 23 || 17 || 6 || 6.0 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | SFO
| 14 || 13 || 38 || 30 || 8 || 6.5 || 13 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | SFO
| 7 || 3 || 13 || 12 || 1 || 1.5 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | SFO
| 7 || 0 || 9 || 5 || 4 || 1.0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | CHI
| 13 || 3 || 16 || 13 || 3 || 3.0 || 4 || 1 || 20 || 0 || 20 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2019 | CHI
| 16 || 0 || 6 || 4 || 2 || 2.0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | JAX
| 8 || 0 || 6 || 5 || 1 || 1.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LyncAa00.htm Career] | 81 | 22 | 111 | 86 | 25 | 21.0 | 37 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons|Aaron Lynch}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=27678|espn=16941|nfl=aaron-lynch}}
- [https://en.montrealalouettes.com/players/aaron-lynch/ Montreal Alouettes bio]
- [http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/lynch_aaron00.html Notre Dame Fighting Irish bio]
- [http://www.gousfbulls.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=7700&ATCLID=205565228 South Florida Bulls bio]
{{49ers2014DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lynch, Aaron}}
Category:American football defensive ends
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish football players
Category:Sportspeople from Cape Coral, Florida
Category:Players of American football from Lee County, Florida
Category:South Florida Bulls football players
Category:San Francisco 49ers players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:Montreal Alouettes players