He’s officially announced his retirement from the NFL, one of the best offensive guards in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history.
It was Friday afternoon when Jensen announced the news on Instagram.
The Baltimore Ravens drafted Ryan Jensen out of Colorado State University-Pueblo in the sixth round, and he made his NFL debut in 2013. While starting all 16 games at center, Jensen did not start for the Ravens until 2017. He showed rapid growth in that role.
In 2018, Jensen signed a four-year, $42 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. The Bucs’ fans quickly came to value Jensen’s tough, physically demanding style of play on the field. Jensen was much more than simply a bully on the field, even though he may be best known for fighting opponents, playing through the whistle, and diving to the aid of his quarterbacks. He was a very strong and versatile center who could hold his own against some of the best interior defensive linemen in the league and open lanes for his running backs.
The Buccaneers’ culture was ultimately changed by Jensen. When it came to playing despite ailments, he was an unwavering fighter and fierce competitor. For the Buccaneers, Jensen once played 3,726 consecutive offensive snaps.
Nonetheless, it went beyond his on-field performance. From the first day he set foot in Tampa, Jensen was trusted as a leader. He set the tone for the team by dressing big red, not only with his O-line teammates but with all of the players. He carried out precisely that.
In 2022, Jensen played his last snaps during a playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys. After missing the entire season due to a horrific knee injury sustained early in training camp, Jensen had no business playing in the game. Not only that, but Jensen did not require surgery to pull off that incredible return. To give himself the best chance of making a comeback that season, he decided to receive stem cell therapies instead. Sadly, following that game, Jensen was unable to return to the pitch.