CARDS: Sage 2016 Artistry, Panini Contenders Draft Picks 2016 Gameday
ACQUIRED: TTM 2017, C/o The Denver Broncos. IP 2023, San Antonio Brahmas V. Houston Roughnecks
SENT: 8/1/2017 RECEIVED: 1/8/2024 (2351 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

• Paxton Lynch played QB at Memphis from 2012-2015.
• Was the starting QB from 2013-2015.
• Posted a Memphis record 2014 outing with 22 TD (259/413) for 3031 yards.
• Also ran for 321 yards on 113 carries and 13 rushing TDs.
• In 2015, shattered his previous mark going 296/443 for 3776 yards and 28 TDs to just 4 picks.
• Set a school single game record with 447 yards passing against Tulsa in 2015.
• Selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft (26th) by the Denver Broncos.
• Was 2nd string QB to open season behind Trevor Siemian his rookie year, seeing action in a few games as an injury replacement.
• In 2017, a good portion of his season was marred by injury, as he sat behind Brock Osweiler.
• Inexplicably would be cut in the preseason during 2018.
• Cut during final roster cuts by the Seahawks in 2019.
• Spent 2019 on the practice squad and roster of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• Cut during final roster cuts by the Steelers in 2020.
• Was with the Saskatchewan Roughriders from mid-2021 to early 2022.
• Signed with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL in 2022, but was ruled out due to a leg injury.
• Joined the Orlando Guardians of the XFL in 2023, and was initially the starter- but would be benched in favor of Quinten Dormandy.
• Cut- he’d be signed later on that same day by the San Antonio Brahmas, but didn’t see any action the rest of the season.
• Left exposed by the Brahmas after the dispersal draft when the XFL and USFL merged.

NOTES:

I sent out to Paxton way, way back in 2017 while he was still on the Broncos hoping to get his autograph on these two cards. In the meantime, he’s had a wild ride around professional leagues, eventually landing in the XFL with San Antonio. I had an extra of his Gameday card, and was able to get his autograph after the team lost an overtime thriller to the Roughnecks.

He was signing behind the player bench, and was amused by the level of fandom he was witnessing. A mother begged Paxton for a used, sweaty towel for her son, who wanted something to remember this by. His response was both shock and amazement, and he said, “Sure?” At that time he penned this Panini Contenders Gameday card.

About a week or two later, I saw him at the Purple Heart event with the team in Boerne. As players kept coming up and talking to me because of my San Diego Fleet jersey, I didn’t get around to everybody I wanted. I had hoped to square Paxton away on a card or two more.

Lo and behold though- nearly 6 1/2 years later- Paxton signed these two cards for me from his days with the Broncos. I immediately gave the duplicate Gameday card to another fan who didn’t get one back from him C/o the Brahmas, and added his Sage Artistry that I wanted to the collection.

This card clocks in as the second longest wait now, behind Matt Hasselbeck, and just in front of Santana Dotson.

As Paxton was not retained by the Brahmas during the UFL player draft in 2024, I’m going to make a soft bet that this was Paxton’s retirement song as the timing of these cards couldn’t have been more perfect.

I myself, admittedly, had hoped that the Houston Texans would draft Paxton Lynch. He had some amazing tape coming out of college. I do not know why Lynch wasn’t able to stick his landing in professional football though I’d guess it might have to do with him relying too much on his athleticism and not enough on learning the playbook.