Justin Simmons to plant alumni flag before Broncos’ SNF clash with Rams

Justin Simmons will handle the alumni flag plant at Empower Field at Mile High before the Denver Broncos host the Los Angeles Rams on “Sunday Night Football,” according to a Friday report from the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson.

Simmons, the four-time All-Pro safety who retired in April after nine NFL seasons, follows up Tim Tebow’s strength last week. The former quarterback planted the flag before Denver’s Week 2 home opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The ceremony is part of the Broncos’ ongoing alumni engagement efforts. The organization consistently hosts former players and staffers — as they did in June for a new facility tour during OTAs.

“I think a bunch of them will see this facility and there will be some grumping and moaning about the old one,” Sean Payton said Friday. “But it’s great to have them back. They’re the lifeblood of the program. We celebrate those chapters that were written already. It’s good for our players to be around them.”

For Simmons, Sunday’s flag plant will be his first time in front of Broncos Country since he signed a one-day contract to retire as a Bronco on April 29 — exactly 10 years to the day Denver selected him in the third round out of Boston College. He finished his career with 32 interceptions, 666 tackles and 71 pass deflections across 134 games. His 30 picks as a Bronco rank seventh in franchise history.

Simmons has stayed a Broncos figure even after he left the team. And as DenverSports.com reported in May, Simmons left the door cracked — just barely — on a potential return, but only for one team.

“Oh, if it was Denver, there’d be no doubt,” Simmons said on the “Up & Adams” show with Kay Adams. “I’m living in Denver right now. I’m planning on staying in shape. So I guess the door is creaked open just a tad. Only if it’s Denver. Only if it’s Denver.”

Simmons isn’t focused on a return to the field. He’s planted himself in the community instead — launching ‘The Weekly Cut,’ a barbershop-set podcast with his longtime barber, Louis Romero.

Simmons endured the franchise’s longest stretch of sustained mediocrity — eight seasons, six head coaches, 13 starting quarterbacks, zero postseason appearances — and played hard through every bit of it. On Sunday night, he’ll be back at the stadium, flag in hand, for a team and a city he never really left.

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