Nate Lynn
| No. 57 – Detroit Lions | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | July 6, 2002 |
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight: | 251 lb (114 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Illinois) Zebulon B. Vance (Charlotte, North Carolina) |
| College: | William & Mary (2019–2023) |
| NFL draft: | 2024: undrafted |
| Career history | |
| |
| Roster status: | Active |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Nate Lynn (born July 6, 2002) is an American professional football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the William & Mary Tribe and was signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
Early life
[edit]Lynn was born on July 6, 2002.[1] He grew up playing football and sometimes played against players several years older than him as he was "always big for his age".[2] At age 11, he told his mother that he thought he "might not be tough enough to push back effectively against the older boys".[2] In response, his mother had him push her in a desk chair across a 25-yard distance repeatedly, and the next day, Lynn "pushed those people around like they were nothing".[2]
Lynn attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School but saw limited playing time and was ranked as a zero-star recruit.[3] He transferred to Zebulon B. Vance High School in North Carolina as a senior and was named all-conference after posting 61 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and 14 sacks while helping Vance to the state championship game.[4] He was invited to the Blue–Grey All-American Bowl after the season.[4] Lynn committed to play college football for the William & Mary Tribe at the NCAA Division I FCS level, one of only three teams to give him an offer.[3]
College career
[edit]As a freshman at William & Mary in 2019, Lynn played in all 12 games and made 14 tackles and 1.5 TFLs.[5] In the spring 2021 season, he played in three games and made seven tackles, a TFL and a pass breakup.[5] He had a breakout year as a redshirt-sophomore in the fall 2021 season, posting 52 tackles, 13.5 TFLs, 12 sacks and six forced fumbles.[6] He was named a first-team FCS All-American, first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and ranked ninth in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award for his performance.[6] The following year, Lynn was named first-team All-CAA and third-team All-American after tallying 61 tackles, 13 TFLs, eight sacks and four forced fumbles.[6] In his last year, he served as team captain and made 58 tackles, 11 TFLs and eight sacks, being named first-team All-CAA, second-team All-American and a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award.[5][7] He concluded his collegiate career having made a school-record 12 forced fumbles, also placing second in team history with 28 sacks.[3]
Professional career
[edit]After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Lynn signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent.[3] He impressed in training camp and in one preseason game but suffered a torn ligament in his shoulder, resulting in him spending the entire season on injured reserve.[3] He returned to the Lions in 2025 and was one of their standout performers in training camp.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Nate Lynn Stats". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c O'Brien, Marty (September 22, 2023). "W&M's Nate Lynn beat his fear of larger linemen by pushing his mom in a desk chair. Now he's an All-American". The Virginian-Pilot – via archive.today.
- ^ a b c d e f Birkett, Dave (July 31, 2025). "Delayed not denied: Nate Lynn, slept on Lions D-lineman, ready for second chance". Detroit Free Press – via archive.today.
- ^ a b White, Herbert L. (January 3, 2019). "Vance High defensive end Nate Lynn ready for national showcase". The Charlotte Post – via Wayback Machine.
- ^ a b c "Nate Lynn". William & Mary Tribe. Retrieved August 11, 2025.
- ^ a b c Herder, Sam (May 15, 2023). "2023 FCS Jersey Countdown: 99 — The Best Player Who Wears No. 99 Is William & Mary's Nate Lynn". HERO Sports.
- ^ "W&M's Nate Lynn Honored as Buck Buchanan Award Finalist". Williamsburg Yorktown Daily. November 22, 2023.