Today, the Denver Outlaws officially announced that John Grant Jr. has re-signed with the team for the 2020 season.
“My heart’s still in it,” Grant Jr. said in the team’s release. “It’s tough to walk away from being a player when your heart wants to be out, with your team, doing incredible things. We have a ton to prove this year, now more than ever. 2020 is the season people won’t forget. We have unfinished business.”
The 45-year-old attackman enters the MLL’s 20th season as the league’s all-time scorer (regular and postseason), breaking the previous record of 596 when he returned to the field last year. During the 2019 season with the Outlaws, Grant Jr. played in 14 games, accumulated 21 goals and 39 points, finishing third in points on the team and helping the Outlaws reach their fifth straight championship appearance.
“We’re fired up to have Junior back in an Outlaws’ uniform,” Denver Outlaws general manager Jon Cohen said. “Anytime you can say you’re going to have the greatest lacrosse player of all time playing in the lineup, it’s exciting. Junior is a proven leader that’s played in several world games and gets the format for this season.”
A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Grant Jr. will play in his fifth season with Denver (2014-16, 2019-20). Grant Jr. also played for the Rattlers (2001, 2005-08), Nationals (2009-11), Lizards (2011), Bayhawks (2012-13) and Machine (2016). Grant Jr. also played 17 seasons in the National Lacrosse League where he was a two-time league MVP and nine-time All-NLL selection. He played for the Colorado Mammoth from 2010-16 and is the team’s all-time leader in goals (235).
The 6-2, 220-pound attackman was named MLL’s Most Valuable Player in 2007 and 2008 and won five MLL Championships with four different teams (Rattlers in 2008, Nationals in 2009 Bayhawks in 2012 and 2013, Outlaws in 2014).
Grant Jr. announced his intentions to retire on April 19, 2017 and served as the Outlaws’ offensive coordinator for the 2017 and 2018 seasons, contributing to the team’s third championship victory in 2018 as a coach. Grant Jr. will continue to coordinate the Outlaws’ offense in 2020 as a player-coach, along with head coach Tony Seaman and defensive coordinator Ken Clausen.
“The Outlaws are thrilled to have John Grant Jr back on the field as a player and coach for the 2020 season,” Denver Outlaws President Matt Bocklet said. “Junior is not only the greatest player in our league’s history, but he is also the greatest professional lacrosse player of all time. Last summer he proved to the world that hard work and determination means more than age, and this summer will be no different. Junior will do what he does best and that’s lead our team to another championship.”
Grant Jr. is currently the league’s most tenured player and only active player to have played during the league’s inaugural season in 2001. While the MLL’s plans for their 2020 season have not yet been announced, an announcement is expected to be made before the end of June.
