On Thursday, Nov. 3, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the division rival Atlanta Falcons for Thursday Night Football, the team will induct safety John Lynch, a 2016 NFL Hall of Fame finalist, into the club's Ring of Honor. The halftime ceremony for Lynch will celebrate the team's ninth inductee into the Ring of Honor, which includes Hall of Fame defensive end Lee Roy Selmon, former Head Coach John McKay, former Pro Bowl tight end Jimmie Giles, former All-Pro tackle Paul Gruber, Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp, Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks, former All-Pro fullback Mike Alstott and former quarterback Doug Williams.
To kick off the night, Lynch will serve as the team's Honorary Flag Runner, leading the Buccaneers out of the tunnel for team introductions. Following introductions, Lynch will be joined by his wife, Linda, and their four children Jake, Lindsay, Lilly, and Leah, at midfield as the Buccaneers'Honorary Guests of the Game where they will stand alongside the Buccaneers captains for the coin toss.
In his career, Lynch earned nine Pro Bowl selections, tied for the second-most at the safety position in NFL history, behind Hall of Famer Ken Houston (10). He was also named to four Associated Press All-Pro teams, while finishing his career with 1,277 tackles, 100 passes defensed, 26 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles, 13.0 sacks and eight fumble recoveries. He also started all 12 postseason contests he appeared in, tallying 71 tackles, 12 passes defensed and two interceptions.
A captain on the Buccaneers Super Bowl Championship team in 2002, Lynch ranks fifth in Buccaneers history in games played (164), fifth in tackles (973), sixth in games started (132) and sixth in interceptions (23). Originally a third-round pick (82nd overall) of the Buccaneers in the 1993 NFL Draft, Lynch played 15 seasons in the National Football League, starting 191 of 224 games for Tampa Bay (1993-2003) and the Denver Broncos (2004-07).
Prior to celebrating Lynch's Ring of Honor induction, the Buccaneers will once again host the pre-game "Bucs Squad Experience" outside Raymond James Stadium while continuing the tradition of honoring local heroes throughout the evening with the team's "Hero of the Game" and the "Salute to Service Suite," amongst other recognition activities.
BUCS SQUAD EXPERIENCE & BUCS SQUAD TWO-MINUTE DRILL AT RAYMOND JAMES STADIUM
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bucs Squad is an exciting new program designed to get the next generation of Bucs fans behind the bench and inside the huddle with their favorite NFL team. By becoming a Bucs Squad member, fans 14-and-under get access to amazing gameday experiences. For more information and to sign up for the Bucs Squad, visit the Bucs Squad Two-Minute Drill locations in sections 112 and 137.
The Bucs Squad Experience will be open 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Lot 6D (Tampa Bay Blvd. between Gates C & D) for all children and families attending the game. The Bucs Squad Experience will include inflatable football activities, interactive PLAY 60 football clinics, as well as visits from Captain Fear (6:00 – 7:00 p.m.) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders (7:00 – 7:30 p.m.) for children to enjoy free of charge.
HERO OF THE GAME: RET. ARMY SERGEANT F.G. SWAN
Before kickoff, the Buccaneers will continue a gameday tradition by honoring the team's military "Hero of the Game." At every Buccaneers home game, a military service member is stationed on the Pirate Ship in Buccaneer Cove to help ready the team for the game. On Thursday, the Buccaneers will honor Ret. Army Sergeant F.G. Swan, a World War II veteran. Sergeant Swan joined the Idaho National Guard at age 15 and participated in the last Horse Cavalry exercise. He was later assigned to the Army 9th Battalion, 6th Armored Division. During the war, Sergeant Swan valiantly fought in the Battle of the Bulge in February 1945. His unit then went on to successfully liberate the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. To learn more about this gameday tradition, visit www.buccaneers.com/salute.
BUCCANEERS SALUTE TO SERVICE SUITE
At every Buccaneers home game at Raymond James Stadium, the team honors a distinguished group of military members with a special gameday experience in the Salute to Service Suite. On Thursday, fans are encouraged to join players and coaches during a break in the second quarter to thank local servicemen and servicewomen for their sacrifices, including:
- From the Air Force, Technical Sergeant LaShonda Robinson and Technical Sergeant Keith Green;
- From the Army, Sergeant Luis Olmeda-Cruz, Sergeant Joel Galarza, and Major Bobby G. Lambert;
- From the Coast Guard, operations Specialist Second Class Phil Southwell;
- From the Marines, Lieutenant Commander Janette Arencibia;
- From the Navy, Ensign Matthew Witte
BUCCANEERS ACADEMY 50/50 RAFFLE
At each Buccaneers home game, fans have the opportunity to participate in the Buccaneers Academy 50/50 Raffle, while supporting a worthwhile cause. Each raffle ticket purchased will go towards a huge cash prize, in which fifty percent of the net proceeds help support the team's 24 Buccaneers Academies around the Tampa Bay area and other Bucs Care Foundation initiatives. The other fifty percent will go to one lucky winner. Tickets are available at kiosks located in section 106, 115, 131, 140 and each club level as well as mobile sellers throughout the stadium. For a complete list of rules and regulations, locate a kiosk or mobile seller on game day.
BUCCANEERS ACADEMY GAMEDAY FOR KIDS GUESTS
For each Buccaneers home game, the Bucs Care Foundation hosts 100 "Gameday for Kids" from the Buccaneers Academy program to promote academic achievement and positive behavior in children. Selected groups receive game tickets, t-shirts, food vouchers and Buccaneers flags by achieving goals set by their teachers. On Sunday, the Buccaneers will welcome students from Graham Elementary, Miles Elementary,and Tampa Bay Boulevard Elementary. More than 15,000 youth and community members representing over 100 organizations from Tampa Bay have been rewarded through the annual program.
