During his junior year, Ahrens was beginning to catch the eye of NFL scouts, in particular Gill Brandt from the Dallas Cowboys. In 1973, Ahrens was drafted in the 12th round by the San Diego Chargers. At the time, the team wanted Ahrens as an offensive tackle, and offered a $500 signing bonus.
While in camp at San Diego, the Edmonton Eskimos called and offered him three times that amount--$1,500 to play for Edmonton and better yet, keep him at tight end.
Ahrens was cut later that year, returning to Eastern Montana College to finish his degree. As it turns out, his true calling was teaching. He landed in Sunburst, where he spent the next three decades as a coach and a teacher. At Sunburst, Lynn coached football, girls' basketball, and even started the school's volleyball program, going on to win a state title.