Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Legend Announces Retirement from the NFL
One of the greatest offensive linemen in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' franchise has officially called it a career.
Jensen made the announcement through Instagram on Friday afternoon.
Ryan Jensen first entered the league back in 2013 after being selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round out of Colorado State University-Pueblo. Jensen didn't become a starter for the Ravens until 2017, where he immediately excelled, starting all 16 games at center.
As a free agent in 2018, Jensen signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for four years and a total of $42 million. It didn't take long for Bucs' fans to appreciate the hard-nosed, ultra-physical style of play that Jensen brought to the field. Although he may be recognized most for mixing it up with opponents, playing through the whistle, and rushing to the defense of his quarterbacks, Jensen was much more than just a bully on the field. He was an incredibly effective and well-rounded center, capable of standing up to some of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in the sport, and paving the way for his backs in the run game.
Ultimately, Jensen helped transform the culture of the Buccaneers. He was a relentless competitor, and an absolute warrior when it came to playing through injuries. At one point, Jensen played 3,726 consecutive offensive snaps for the Buccaneers.
It wasn't just his performance on the field though. Jensen was relied upon as a leader from the moment he arrived in Tampa. Not just amongst his teammates along the O-line, but all players on the team looked to big red to set the tone. And that's exactly what he did.
Jensen's final snaps came in a playoff defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys in 2022. Jensen had no business playing in the game after he had sat out the entire season because of a gruesome knee injury suffered early in training camp. Not only that, but Jensen managed to make that miraculous comeback despite not having a surgical procedure. Instead, he opted to undergo stem cell treatments to leave the door open for a return that season. Unfortunately, Jensen wasn't able to make a return to the field after that game.
As a key leader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Super Bowl winning team in 2020, Ryan Jensen will forever be remembered fondly as a Buccaneer. His toughness, competitive spirit, and relentless play on the field were a big reason why the Bucs were able to go the distance in Tom Brady's first season. It's also why he will go down as one of the greatest offensive linemen in the history of the franchise.
Although Ryan Jensen won't be snapping the ball at Raymond James Stadium anymore, the transformative impact he made on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization should remain for years to come.
You can follow Collin Haalboom on Twitter.
