Isaiah Simmons Bio
Isaiah Simmons is an American professional football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals eighth overall in the 2020 NFL draft. While at Clemson, Simmons was noted for his positional versatility as he played linebacker, defensive end, cornerback and safety.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Simmons has built a career on athletic range, sideline-to-sideline speed, and the ability to line up in multiple spots in a defense. After college, he quickly became one of the most discussed defensive prospects in the country and has continued to carve out a role at the professional level through special teams play and rotational defensive snaps.
Early Life and Background
Isaiah Simmons was born in Omaha, Nebraska on July 26, 1998. He grew up in the Midwest and later moved with his family to the Kansas City area, where he attended Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas. At Olathe North, he played defensive back and wide receiver, showing the kind of two-way athletic ability that would later define his reputation.
Simmons committed to Clemson University in February 2016, choosing one of the strongest college football programs in the country. His combination of size, length, and versatility made him a priority recruit, and his senior year in high school helped set the stage for an early impact once he arrived on campus in the ACC.
Path to American Football
Simmons redshirted his first year at Clemson in 2016, using the time to develop physically and learn the defensive system. As a sophomore in 2017, he played safety and appeared in 14 games, recording 49 tackles and one sack while flashing the range that scouts would later praise.
Going into the 2018 season, the Clemson staff converted Simmons to linebacker, a move that highlighted his rare ability to cover ground in space and also play near the line of scrimmage. That season he helped the Tigers win the College Football Playoff national championship, capping one of the most dominant stretches in program history.
Isaiah Simmons Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Simmons spent his first three active seasons at Clemson moving between roles in the secondary and at linebacker. In 2018, his first year at linebacker, he played in 15 games and produced 97 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception, including a 27-yard pick-six against Louisville in a 77–16 Clemson victory.
Rather than enter the 2019 NFL draft, Simmons returned to Clemson for his redshirt junior season and delivered a career-defining campaign. After graduating in December 2019 with a degree in sports communication, he declared for the 2020 NFL draft, finishing his college career as one of the most decorated defenders in the country.
College Breakthrough (2019)
The 2019 season was the breakthrough year for Isaiah Simmons. He won the Butkus Award as the nation’s best linebacker, was named a Unanimous All-American, earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors, and was a first-team All-ACC selection. That run of awards placed him alongside the most recognizable defensive names in college football.
Simmons’ positional flexibility was a key part of his evaluation. He took snaps at linebacker, defensive end, cornerback, and safety, giving defensive coordinators the freedom to deploy him in ways that few college players could match. That versatility, paired with his sideline-to-sideline speed, made him a near-consensus top prospect for the 2020 NFL draft.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2020–2022)
Simmons participated in the 2020 NFL Combine, leading all linebackers with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. He was one of 58 players invited to the 2020 NFL Draft, which was held virtually due to COVID-19 social distancing regulations, and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the eighth overall pick.
His rookie season included a memorable moment in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football. Despite playing only five snaps, Simmons recorded his first career interception off Russell Wilson with a minute left in overtime, helping the Cardinals win 37–34. He was later named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
In 2021, Simmons started all 17 games as an inside linebacker and finished third on the team with 105 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and seven passes defensed. In 2022, he added four sacks, 99 total tackles, two interceptions, seven passes defended, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery across 17 games and 13 starts. On May 1, 2023, the Cardinals declined the fifth-year option of his contract.
New York Giants Era (2023–2024)
Simmons was traded to the New York Giants on August 24, 2023, in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He finished the 2023 season with one sack, 50 total tackles, one interception, three passes defended, one fumble recovery, and one forced fumble across 17 games and four starts. His interception return for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders in Week 11 sealed a Giants victory.
On April 5, 2024, the Giants re-signed Simmons to a one-year, $2 million contract. During a Week 5 game against the Seattle Seahawks, he blocked a potential game-tying field goal from Jason Myers, and the ball was returned for a touchdown by Bryce Ford-Wheaton in a 29-20 Giants win. Simmons was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for that performance.
Green Bay Packers Era (2025)
On April 29, 2025, Simmons signed with the Green Bay Packers as a free agent. He was released on August 26, 2025, as part of final roster cuts, ending a brief stint in Green Bay.
Carolina Panthers Era (2025–Present)
On November 25, 2025, Simmons signed with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on December 27, 2025, after Trevin Wallace was moved to injured reserve. In Carolina’s Wild Card playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, he recorded a blocked punt late in the fourth quarter that set up an eventual lead-changing touchdown, although the Panthers ultimately lost 34-31. On March 10, 2026, Simmons re-signed with the Panthers.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Isaiah Simmons’ signature moments are his 2020 overtime interception against Russell Wilson, his 56-yard interception return for a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in 2021, a pick-six against the Washington Commanders with the Giants, and a blocked field goal against Seattle that earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He also owns a College Football Playoff national championship ring from the 2018 Clemson Tigers.
Isaiah Simmons Career Statistics
As of the 2025 season, Isaiah Simmons has appeared in regular season NFL action for the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, and Carolina Panthers, totaling 331 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 21 pass deflections, 5 interceptions, and 2 defensive touchdowns across his professional career.
Isaiah Simmons Family
Personal Life
Isaiah Simmons is an American professional athlete born and raised in the United States. Public details about his extended family and personal relationships are limited, and he has generally kept his private life away from the spotlight while focusing on his football career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a transitional year for Isaiah Simmons. After signing with the Green Bay Packers in April, he was released during final roster cuts in late August. He then caught on with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad in late November before being moved to the active roster in late December, giving him another opportunity to contribute down the stretch and into the postseason.
His impact in Carolina came quickly on special teams, most notably with a blocked punt in the Wild Card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams that briefly swung momentum in the Panthers’ favor. That play reinforced the same disruptive, versatile profile that defined his college and rookie seasons.
Looking ahead, Simmons re-signed with the Panthers in March 2026, signaling continued trust between the player and the organization. His mix of linebacker experience, coverage skills, and special teams value gives Carolina a flexible veteran option as it builds out its defense for the seasons to come.