Anthony Lynn facts for kids
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Lynn in 2017
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| Washington Commanders | |||||||||
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| Position: | Run game coordinator Running backs coach |
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| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 21, 1968 McKinney, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Celina (Celina, Texas) | ||||||||
| College: | Texas Tech (1988–1991) | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1992 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| As coach: | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||||||
| Regular season: | 33–32 (.508) | ||||||||
| Postseason: | 1–1 (.500) | ||||||||
| Career: | 34–33 (.507) | ||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
| Coaching stats at PFR | |||||||||
Anthony Ray Lynn (born December 21, 1968) is an American football coach and former running back. He currently works as the run game coordinator and running backs coach for the Washington Commanders in the National Football League (NFL). Lynn played as a running back for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in college. He then played six seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Denver Broncos. With the Broncos, he won two Super Bowl championships: Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII. After he stopped playing in 2000, Lynn began his coaching career. He later became the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017 to 2020.
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Anthony Lynn's Football Journey
Playing in the NFL
Anthony Lynn played football at Celina High School. He then played for the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 1988 to 1991. In 1990, he was named an All-Southwest Conference running back. A knee injury during his final year in college made teams hesitant to draft him into the NFL.
Lynn played as a reserve running back and on special teams during his NFL career. He played for the Denver Broncos (1993, 1997–1999) and the San Francisco 49ers (1995–1996). He stopped playing in 2000 because of repeated neck injuries. Lynn was a part of the Denver Broncos teams that won back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998.
Becoming a Coach
Early Coaching Roles
After retiring as a player in 2000, Lynn joined the Denver Broncos coaching staff. He worked as an offensive assistant and special teams coach.
He then moved to the Jacksonville Jaguars as the running backs coach from 2003 to 2004. After a change in the coaching staff, he left Jacksonville.
Lynn quickly joined the Dallas Cowboys as their running backs coach. He stayed with the Cowboys from 2005 to 2006.
On January 26, 2007, Lynn moved to the Cleveland Browns. He became their running backs coach.
Coaching the New York Jets
On February 1, 2012, Lynn was named the assistant head coach and running backs coach for the New York Jets. He worked under head coach Rex Ryan. From 2009 to 2013, while Lynn was the running backs coach, the Jets had one of the best running games in the NFL. In 2013, he helped player Chris Ivory gain 833 rushing yards.
Time with the Buffalo Bills
When Rex Ryan left the Jets, Lynn followed him to the Buffalo Bills. He took on the same role as assistant head coach and running backs coach. The Bills had the best rushing game in the NFL during the 2015–2016 season.
On September 16, 2016, Lynn was promoted to offensive coordinator for the Bills. He said he wanted his offense to play "smart, physical football" and be "explosive." Lynn made his debut as offensive coordinator with a 33–18 win against the Arizona Cardinals. On December 27, 2016, Lynn was named the interim head coach after Rex Ryan was fired.
Leading the Los Angeles Chargers
On January 12, 2017, Anthony Lynn was hired as the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. This was the same day the team announced it was moving from San Diego to Los Angeles. Lynn became the first African-American head coach in the Chargers' history.
In his second season, the 2018 season, Lynn led the Chargers to a 12–4 record. This was their first time making the playoffs since 2013. They won their first playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. However, they were later defeated by the New England Patriots, who went on to win the Super Bowl LIII.
The Chargers did not make the playoffs in 2019, finishing with a 5–11 record. The team then drafted quarterback Justin Herbert in the 2020 NFL draft. In 2020, the Chargers finished with a 7–9 record. On January 4, 2021, Lynn was no longer the head coach of the Chargers. His overall record as head coach was 33 wins and 31 losses.
Recent Coaching Roles
On January 23, 2021, Lynn was hired by the Detroit Lions as their offensive coordinator. He left the Lions in January 2022.
On February 4, 2022, Lynn joined the San Francisco 49ers as their assistant head coach. He also took on the role of running backs coach.
In February 2023, the Washington Commanders asked to interview Lynn for a coaching position. The following season, on February 15, 2024, Lynn was hired by the Washington Commanders. He is now their run game coordinator and running backs coach.
Personal Life
Anthony Lynn has a son named D'Anton and a daughter named Danielle from his previous marriage. He married journalist Stacey Bell on March 5, 2011, in Dallas, Texas. His son, D'Anton, played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions. He even signed with the New York Jets briefly after college. Anthony Lynn has always supported his son's football dreams. He taught him about the hard work needed to be a professional player.
In 2005, while coaching for the Dallas Cowboys, Lynn was involved in a car accident. He was hit by a car while walking. Lynn was seriously injured, but he recovered and returned to coaching less than two weeks later. His story of recovery was even featured in a Verizon advertisement during Super Bowl LIII in 2019. In the ad, he met the first responders who helped him after the accident.
On May 12, 2018, Lynn earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Head coaching record
| Team | Year | Regular season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| BUF* | 2016 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 3rd in AFC East | — | — | — | — |
| BUF total | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | .000 | |||
| LAC | 2017 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| LAC | 2018 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 2nd in AFC West | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to New England Patriots in AFC Divisional Game |
| LAC | 2019 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| LAC | 2020 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in AFC West | — | — | — | — |
| LAC total | 33 | 31 | 0 | .516 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |||
| Total | 33 | 32 | 0 | .508 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |||
* – Interim head coach
