Jeffery Simmons Bio
Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr., born on July 28, 1997, in Jena, Louisiana, is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 305 pounds, he plays a powerful interior role on the defensive line and is widely recognized as one of the league’s premier tackles. He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and was selected by the Tennessee Titans with the 19th overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Across his professional career, he has earned multiple Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honors while serving as a cornerstone of the Titans’ defense.
Early Life and Background
Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr. was born on July 28, 1997, in Jena, Louisiana, and later moved to Mississippi, where he attended Noxubee County High School in Macon. He emerged as a dominant high school player and was regarded as a five-star recruit coming out of the program. His combination of size, quickness, and strength quickly drew national attention from top college programs.
His family has deep ties to the sport of football. His brother, Dylan Bradley, played football at Southern Miss and spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, while his uncle, Jason Hatcher, played 10 total seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. Simmons was also a two-time member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll during his college years, reflecting his commitment in the classroom.
Path to American Football
Simmons committed to Mississippi State over offers from Alabama and Ole Miss, choosing to play his college career in the Southeastern Conference. As a true freshman in 2016, he appeared on the field and produced 40 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections, signaling his early impact along the defensive front.
His sophomore campaign in 2017 elevated his profile across the conference. He recorded 60 tackles, five sacks, a pass deflection, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown on a fumble recovery, earning consensus First-team All-SEC honors. As a junior in 2018, he added 63 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and four pass deflections, and he captured the Conerly Trophy as Mississippi’s top college player. On December 20, 2018, Simmons declared for the 2019 NFL draft.
Jeffery Simmons Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
During his three seasons at Mississippi State, Simmons developed into one of the most disruptive defensive linemen in the Southeastern Conference. His freshman totals of 40 tackles and two forced fumbles gave way to a breakout sophomore season that included five sacks and First-team All-SEC recognition. As a junior, he added the Conerly Trophy to his list of accolades and finished with 63 tackles and two sacks before turning professional.
Simmons tore his ACL on February 12, 2019, while training for the NFL Combine and pre-draft workouts. Despite the injury, the Tennessee Titans selected him in the first round with the 19th overall pick of the 2019 NFL draft. He signed a four-year, $12.66 million rookie contract on May 22, 2019, that included a team option for a fifth year and a $7.23 million signing bonus.
Tennessee Titans Era (2019–Present)
Simmons began his rookie season on the reserve/non-football injury list while recovering from his torn ACL. The Titans activated him on October 19, 2019, and he made his NFL debut the next day against the Los Angeles Chargers, recording four tackles and his first career sack on quarterback Philip Rivers. He finished 2019 with 32 tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection in nine games, helping Tennessee reach the AFC Championship Game.
In 2020, Simmons played 15 games and registered 49 tackles, three sacks, five pass deflections, a forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 9 performance against the Chicago Bears, when he forced a fumble that was returned 63 yards for a touchdown by teammate Desmond King. The Titans finished the year with an 11–5 record and the AFC South title.
The 2021 campaign marked Simmons’ emergence as an elite defender. He finished the season with 54 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and six pass deflections across 17 starts and was named to his first Pro Bowl as an injury replacement for Chris Jones. Tennessee went 12–5 and earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
In 2022, Simmons produced 54 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 15 games, earning his second Pro Bowl nod and a Second-team All-Pro selection. On April 7, 2023, he signed a four-year, $94 million contract extension with the Titans, cementing his long-term role with the franchise.
The 2023 season was cut short when Simmons was placed on injured reserve on December 23, but he still managed 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and his first career touchdown on a reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2024, he set a career high with 76 tackles to go along with five sacks, two forced fumbles, and four pass deflections, earning his third Pro Bowl selection as a replacement for Nnamdi Madubuike.
In 2025, Simmons delivered one of the most complete seasons of his career, recording 67 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass deflections, and a receiving touchdown in 15 games. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December, earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection, and was named First-team All-Pro.
Driving Style and Strengths
Simmons is known for his rare blend of size, power, and quickness at the defensive tackle position. He excels at disrupting both the run game and the passing attack, using strong hands and leverage to shed blockers. His partnership with the Titans’ defensive coaching staff has helped him refine his pass-rush timing, and his career 42.5 sacks reflect a consistent ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments, Simmons recorded his first NFL sack on Philip Rivers in his 2019 debut and later earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2020. He has played in multiple AFC Championship and Divisional Round games, and in 2025 he recorded his first career safety against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also scored his second career touchdown on a reception from quarterback Cam Ward against the San Francisco 49ers in 2025.
Jeffery Simmons Career Wins
Across his professional career, Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr. has established himself as one of the most productive defensive tackles in the NFL, earning four Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro recognition in 2021, 2022, and 2025. His teams have qualified for the playoffs in multiple seasons, and he has contributed to AFC South titles for the Tennessee Titans in 2020 and 2021.
NFL Highlights
Simmons has accumulated 42.5 career sacks, eight forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, 27 pass deflections, and two receiving touchdowns through the 2025 season. He earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2025, was a Second-team All-Pro selection in 2021 and 2022, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025. His 2025 campaign included 11 sacks and an AFC Defensive Player of the Month award for December.
Other Performances
At the college level, Simmons was a two-time First-team All-SEC selection (2017 and 2018) and won the Conerly Trophy in 2018 as Mississippi’s top college football player. He was also a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, reflecting his performance in the classroom alongside his on-field production.
Jeffery Simmons Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr. comes from a family with a strong football tradition. His brother, Dylan Bradley, played football at Southern Miss and spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, while his uncle, Jason Hatcher, played 10 seasons in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. This family legacy helped shape his path toward a professional career on the defensive line.
Personal Life
Away from football, Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr. enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors. He has a son named Jeffery Jr. and two sisters, Brooke and Ashley. His personal life remains centered on family and his continued role as a leader within the Tennessee Titans organization.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a career-defining year for Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr. He started with a strip-sack of Bo Nix in the season opener against the Denver Broncos and went on to record 67 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, three pass deflections, and a touchdown reception in 15 games. He was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for December after a dominant stretch that included his first career safety against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Simmons capped his 2025 campaign with his fourth Pro Bowl selection and his first First-team All-Pro honor, cementing his status among the league’s elite defensive tackles. His production helped anchor the Tennessee Titans’ defensive front throughout the season and reinforced his value as a long-term building block for the franchise.
Looking ahead, Simmons signed a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension with the Titans on June 19, 2026, signaling the team’s continued commitment to him as a cornerstone of the defense. His combination of leadership, durability, and on-field production positions him as a central figure in Tennessee’s plans for the coming seasons.
