Bucs center Ryan Jensen announced his official retirement from the NFL on Friday. Jensen posted to his instagram with much gratitude towards the Ravens and Bucs for he opportunity to play football.

In part of the post, Jensen said “Retiring from the game you have loved from a very young game is always hard. I am excited for this next chapter and the new opportunities and challenges it will bring.”

Ryan Jensen was a very important piece to the Bucs winning Super Bowl LV. His hard nosed, physical mentality helped bolster the offensive line, bringing attitude when the group needed it.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Ryan Jensen’s Start

Playing his college football at Colorado University Pueblo, Ryan Jensen earned second team All-Rock Mountain Athletic conference as a sophomore. In his senior season, Jensen finished fifth in voting for the Gene Upshaw Award, which is given out to the NCAA Division II best lineman, regardless of it’s offense or defense.

Jensen was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the sixth round of 2013 draft. After mostly playing a reserve role for the first three season, he became the full time starter in 2017, playing in all 16 games and two postseason games as well.

Ryan Jensen Goes To The Bucs

His great play earned him a four year contract worth $42 million with the Bucs in 2018. This made him the highest paid center at the time. Three seasons later after working with Tom Brady, Jensen helped anchor a  Super Bowl winning line with Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith on the left side and Alex Cappa, Aaron Stinnie replacing an injured Cappa, and rookie Tristan Wirfs. 

Jensen was one of the leaders of the group. He would constantly defend all of his teammates and get in the faces of his opponents, oftentimes drawing unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Ryan Jensen was considered one of the best centers in the league and display backed it up.

Bucs C Ryan Jensen – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

In 2021 Jensen signed a three-year, $39 million as the Bucs won the NFC South division that year going 13-4 and then losing in the divisional. That was also Jensen’s first and only Pro Bowl season.

Unfortunately a knee injury suffered on the second day of training camp forced  him to miss the entire 2022 season. It all occurred when Aaron Stinnie blocked then rookie Logan Hall into the side of Jensen’s leg at the end of practice. Jensen did return for the Bucs’ playoff game in the wild card round against the Cowboys to play with Brady one more time, but clearly wasn’t at 100%.

Jensen would sporadically practice in the 2023 training camp with the Bucs. However, general manager Jason Licht announced during the Bucs’ third preseason game, ironically against Jensen’s former team, the Ravens, that Jensen would once again be out for the year.

This time around, Jensen did stay with the team throughout the season and could constantly be seen in the locker room. We’ll see what’s next, but if he wanted to get into coaching, he could probably find a role.

Ryan Jensen finished his NFL career playing in 100 regular season games and eight playoff games along with winning a Super Bowl championship. Jensen will go down as one of the more lovable Bucs players in recent history amongst the fans. Congratulations to him on a great career.