David Bruton retires after excellent career in the NFL

Former Denver Broncos safety David Bruton announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 30. He was one who beat the odds…

After an eight-year NFL career, former Denver Broncos safety David Bruton is hanging up the cleats.

Bruton was part of the Broncos’ 2009 draft class, and played with the team through the 2015 season where he was an integral part of the team’s championship run.

With the addition of Darian Stewart, Bruton and T.J. Ward joined to form one of the league’s most effective and diverse safety groups. The defense was dominant that year thanks large in part to the contributions of Bruton, who played roughly 44 percent of the snaps that season.

Bruton was consistently one of the Broncos’ best coverage safeties in 2015, and he proved over the course of his career to be one of the most valuable special teams players as well.

Dating back to the beginning of his career with the team, Bruton has exemplified hard work and excellence on and off the field. He started his own foundation called Bruton’s Books and was part of countless community outreach events with the Denver Broncos.

He was the quintessential team captain, and a joy to watch as a player in his time with the Broncos. After the 2015 season, Bruton pursued a starting position with the Washington Redskins, but too many concussions forced him to make the tough decision to end his playing days.

Bruton’s most memorable moment as a Bronco was in the 2015 regular season, a game that went to overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers on the road. Bruton played almost the entire game with a broken leg, unbeknownst to fans.

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It turned out to be his final game with the Broncos, and also the last time the Broncos would lose that entire season. They ripped off five straight wins following that game, including a win in Super Bowl 50.

Bruton was a key piece of what definitely belongs in the conversation as the greatest defense ever, and he deserves a huge Mile High Salute from Broncos Country.