DENVER — Lacrosse legend John Grant Jr. announced Saturday that he will come out of retirement and join the Denver Outlaws’ roster for the 2019 season. A 13-year Major League Lacrosse veteran, Grant Jr. ranks second on the league’s all-time scoring list (regular and postseason; 592) and is five points away from passing the top mark (Paul Rabil; 596).
Grant, 44, most recently played for the Ohio Machine in 2016 and scored 10 goals in the team’s final regular-season game. He announced his intentions to retire on April 19, 2017, and served as the Outlaws’ offensive coordinator for the 2017 and ’18 seasons. Grant will continue to coordinate the Outlaws’ offense in 2019 as a player-oach.
A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Grant Jr. played three seasons with Denver (2014-16) and totaled 112 points (59 goals, 53 assists) in 28 games. Grant Jr. also played for the Rattlers (2001, ’05-08), Nationals (2009-11), Lizards (2011), Bayhawks (2012-13) and Machine (2016).
The 6-2, 220-pound attackman was named MLL’s Most Valuable Player in 2007 and ‘08 and won five MLL Championships with four different teams (Rattlers, 2008; Nationals, 2009; Bayhawks, 2012-13; Outlaws, 2014).
Grant 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 defending-champion Outlaws open their season on Friday against the Lizards in Hempstead, N.Y., and will take on the Dallas Rattlers on June 27 in the home opener at Broncos Stadium at Mile High.