Following 12 seasons in the NFL, inside linebacker Josh Bynes is officially retiring as a Baltimore Raven.
Today, @bynestime56 will officially retire as a Raven 💜
Congratulations on your retirement, Josh❕ pic.twitter.com/Wz727HBRbz
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 8, 2023
Bynes was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Auburn in 2011. The very next season, Bynes would make the game-ending tackle on Ted Ginn Jr. on a kickoff in Baltimore’s victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.
Bynes was signed off the Ravens’ practice squad by the Detroit Lions during the 2014 season. After spending three seasons with the Lions, Bynes signed with the Arizona Cardinals, where he would stay for the next two seasons before being released in the 2019 offseason.
Bynes returned to Baltimore during the 2019 season. The Ravens’ young pair of inside linebackers were struggling to start the season after losing C.J. Mosley in free agency to the New York Jets that offseason. Baltimore turned to Bynes and fellow veteran inside linebacker L.J. Fort a few weeks into the season, and the duo did not look back.
Bynes signed with the Cincinnati Bengals following the 2019 season. After one season with the Bengals, he signed with the Carolina Panthers but was released as part of final roster cutdowns before the 2021 season.
The Ravens were in a similar situation to start the 2021 season, with second-year first-round pick Patrick Queen struggling without Fort on the field after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. Baltimore again turned to Bynes to save the day, and he did just that.
Bynes remained a starter alongside Queen into the next season until the Ravens traded for All-Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears.
The former undrafted linebacker finished his 12-year career with 582 total tackles, 39 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, five interceptions, 34 passes defended, and one defensive touchdown in 138 games played.
“@bynestime56‘s an example that when you work hard and do the right things… a lot of great things can happen.” pic.twitter.com/8h5d8ufYco
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 8, 2023
