Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr. (born July 28, 1997) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Mississippi State Bulldogs and was selected by the Titans in the first round the 2019 NFL draft.
After a standout career playing at Noxubee County High School in Mississippi, Simmons was considered a five-star prospect and committed to Mississippi State over Alabama and Ole Miss.
As a true freshman in 2016, Simmons had 40 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two pass deflections.
Simmons had a breakout sophomore season in 2017 and was a consensus selection to the 2017 All-SEC football team after recording 60 tackles, five sacks, a pass deflection, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a touchdown on a fumble recovery.
As a junior in 2018, Simmons had 63 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, and four pass deflections. On December 20, 2018, he declared for the 2019 NFL draft. Two months later, on February 12, 2019, Simmons tore his ACL while training for the draft.
Simmons was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the first round (19th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. On May 22, 2019, he signed a four-year, $12.66 million rookie contract with a team option for a fifth year with a $7.23 million signing bonus. Simmons was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list to start the 2019 season while recovering from his torn ACL.
On October 19, 2019, the Titans activated Simmons from the non-football injury list. He made his NFL debut the next day against the Los Angeles Chargers and finished the 23âÂÂ20 victory with four tackles and his first NFL sack on Philip Rivers. During Week 14 against the Oakland Raiders, Simmons had five tackles and a sack in the 42âÂÂ21 road victory. In the next game against the Houston Texans, he recorded three tackles and a pass deflection during the 24âÂÂ21 loss.
Simmons finished his rookie year with 32 tackles, two sacks, and a pass deflection in nine games and seven starts. The Titans finished second in the AFC South with a 9âÂÂ7 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #6-seed. In the Wild Card Round against the New England Patriots, Simmons made his postseason debut and finished the 20âÂÂ13 road victory with a solo tackle. During the Divisional Round against the Ravens, Simmons had two tackles and recovered a fumble forced by teammate Jurrell Casey on Lamar Jackson in the 28âÂÂ12 road victory. However, the Titans lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, in the AFC Championship Game, with Simmons recording no statistics during the 35âÂÂ24 road loss.
During the season-opener against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, Simmons recorded four tackles and a fumble recovery in the narrow 16âÂÂ14 road victory. In the next game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had three tackles and a pass deflection during the 33âÂÂ30 victory. The following week against the Minnesota Vikings, Simmons recorded five tackles and his first sack of the season on Kirk Cousins in the narrow 31âÂÂ30 road victory.
Simmons was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on October 3. He was activated on October 15. Simmons returned in time for the Week 6 matchup against the Texans and finished the 42âÂÂ36 overtime victory with six tackles and a sack. In the next game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Simmons recorded three tackles and a pass deflection during the 27âÂÂ24 loss. Two weeks later against the Chicago Bears, he had three tackles, a pass deflection, a fumble recovery, and forced a fumble on running back David Montgomery that was recovered and returned by teammate Desmond King for a 63-yard touchdown in the 24âÂÂ17 victory. Simmons was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 9.
During a Week 10 34âÂÂ17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday Night Football, Simmons recorded two tackles and a pass deflection. Two weeks later against the Colts, he had four tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection in the 45âÂÂ26 road victory. During Week 15 against the Detroit Lions, Simmons recorded two tackles and a fumble recovery in the 46âÂÂ25 victory.
Simmons finished his second professional season with 49 tackles, three sacks, five pass deflections, a forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries in 15 games and starts. The Titans finished atop the AFC South with an 11âÂÂ5 record and qualified for the playoffs. During the Wild Card Round against the Ravens, Simmons had three tackles in the 20âÂÂ13 loss. He was ranked 78th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.
During the season-opening 38âÂÂ13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Simmons had five tackles and his first sack of the season on Kyler Murray. In the next game against the Seattle Seahawks, Simmons recorded a tackle and 0.5 sacks during the 33âÂÂ30 overtime road victory. The following week against the Colts, he had three tackles and a pass deflection in the 25âÂÂ16 victory.
During Week 5 against the Jaguars, Simmons recorded three tackles and a pass deflection in the 37âÂÂ19 road victory. In the next game against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, he had five tackles and a sack during the 34âÂÂ31 victory. Three weeks later against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, Simmons recorded a season-high six tackles and sacked Matthew Stafford thrice in the 28âÂÂ16 road victory.
During a narrow Week 10 23âÂÂ21 victory over the New Orleans Saints, Simmons had four tackles, a pass deflection, and sacked Trevor Siemian twice. In the next game against the Texans, Simmons recorded five tackles and a pass deflection during the 22âÂÂ13 loss. The following week against the Patriots, he tied his season-high of six tackles in the 36âÂÂ13 road loss.
Following a Week 13 bye, the Titans returned home to face the Jaguars. Simmons finished the 20âÂÂ0 shutout victory with three tackles and a pass deflection. In the next game against the Steelers, he had a tackle and a pass deflection during the 19âÂÂ13 road loss. During the regular season finale against the Texans, Simmons recorded two tackles and a sack in the 28âÂÂ25 road victory.
Simmons finished the 2021 season with 54 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and six pass deflections in 17 games and starts. The Titans finished atop the AFC South with a 12âÂÂ5 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #1-seed. In the Divisional Round against the Cincinnati Bengals, Simmons had eight tackles and sacked Joe Burrow thrice during the 19âÂÂ16 loss. On January 31, 2022, Simmons was named to his first Pro Bowl as an injury replacement to Chris Jones. Simmons was ranked 54th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
On April 27, 2022, the Titans picked up the fifth-year option on Simmons' contract.
During the season-opener against the New York Giants, Simmons had six tackles and sacked Daniel Jones twice (one was a strip-sack) in the narrow 21âÂÂ20 loss. In the next game against the Bills on Monday Night Football, Simmons recorded a pass deflection during the 41âÂÂ7 road loss. The following week against the Las Vegas Raiders, he had two tackles and a pass deflection in the narrow 24âÂÂ22 victory.
During a Week 5 21âÂÂ17 road victory over the Washington Commanders, Simmons recorded five tackles and 1.5 sacks. Following a Week 6 bye, the Titans returned home to face the Colts. Simmons finished the 19âÂÂ10 victory with six tackles and sacked Matt Ryan once. In the next game against the Texans, Simmons had two tackles and a sack during the 17âÂÂ10 road victory.
During Week 10 against the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football, Simmons had four tackles and a pass deflection in the 20âÂÂ17 overtime road loss. However, he missed the next game against the Broncos with an ankle injury. Simmons returned the following week against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football and recorded five tackles and sacked Aaron Rodgers once in the 27âÂÂ17 victory.
During a Week 13 35âÂÂ10 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Simmons recorded a tackle and a pass deflection. In the next game against the Jaguars, he had two pass deflections during the 36âÂÂ22 loss. The following week against the Chargers, Simmons recorded a season-high seven tackles and sacked Justin Herbert once in the 17âÂÂ14 road loss.
Simmons finished the 2022 season with 54 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 15 games and starts. He was named to his second Pro Bowl. Simmons was ranked 58th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.
On April 7, 2023, Simmons signed a four-year, $94 million contract extension with the Titans.
During the narrow season-opening 16âÂÂ15 road loss to the Saints, Simmons recorded five tackles and his first sack of the season on Derek Carr. In the next game against the Chargers, Simmons once again had five tackles and a sack during the 27âÂÂ24 overtime victory. Two weeks later against the Bengals, he recorded two tackles and 0.5 sacks in the 27âÂÂ3 blowout victory.
During Week 8 against the Atlanta Falcons, Simmons had five tackles and sacked Desmond Ridder twice (one was a strip sack) in the 28âÂÂ23 victory. In the next game against the Steelers on Thursday Night Football, Simmons recorded a season-high seven tackles during the 20âÂÂ16 road loss. The following week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had four tackles and a pass deflection in the 20âÂÂ6 road loss.
During a Week 11 34âÂÂ14 road loss to the Jaguars, Simmons recorded two tackles scored his first NFL career touchdown on a two-yard reception from quarterback Will Levis after being declared an eligible receiver. In the next game against the Carolina Panthers, Simmons had five tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery during the 17âÂÂ10 victory.
On December 23, Simmons was placed on season-ending injured reserve. He finished the 2023 season with 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery to go along with a receiving touchdown in 12 games and starts. Simmons was ranked 73rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2024.
During Week 3 against the Packers, Simmons had five tackles and his first sack of the season on Malik Willis in the 30âÂÂ14 loss. However, Simmons missed the next game due to an elbow injury.
During a Week 7 34âÂÂ10 road loss to the Bills, Simmons recorded two tackles and a pass deflection. In the next game against the Lions, he had four tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble during the 52âÂÂ14 road loss. The following week against the Patriots, Simmons recorded five tackles and a fumble recovery in the 20âÂÂ17 overtime victory.
During Week 10 against the Chargers, Simmons had five tackles and a pass deflection in the 27âÂÂ17 road loss. In the next game against the Vikings, he recorded four tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery during the 23âÂÂ13 loss. The following week against the Texans, Simmons had two tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection in the 32âÂÂ27 road victory.
During a Week 13 42âÂÂ19 road loss to the Commanders, Simmons recorded a season-high nine tackles. In the next game against the Jaguars, he had five tackles and a pass deflection during the 10âÂÂ6 loss. Two weeks later against the Colts, Simmons tied his season-high of nine tackles and sacked Anthony Richardson once in the 38âÂÂ30 road loss.
Simmons finished the 2024 season with a career-high 76 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and four pass deflections in 16 games and starts. He earned his third Pro Bowl nomination as a replacement for injured defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike.
During the season-opening 20âÂÂ12 road loss to the Broncos, Simmons recorded four tackles and strip-sacked Bo Nix once. Three weeks later against the Texans, Simmons had five tackles and a sack in the 26âÂÂ0 shutout road loss. In the next game against the Cardinals, he recorded a season-high eight tackles and 1.5 sacks during the narrow 22âÂÂ21 road victory.
During Week 6 against the Raiders, Simmons had six tackles and a sack in the 20âÂÂ10 road loss. He did not play in Weeks 8 and 9 due to a hamstring injury. Simmons returned in time for the Week 11 matchup against the Texans and finished the 16âÂÂ13 loss with three tackles and a sack.
During a Week 13 25âÂÂ3 loss to the Jaguars, Simmons recorded six tackles and a sack. In the next game against the Cleveland Browns, he had seven tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a pass deflection during the narrow 31âÂÂ29 road victory. The following week against the San Francisco 49ers, Simmons recorded seven tackles and strip-sacked Brock Purdy once while also scoring his second career touchdown on a one-yard reception from quarterback Cam Ward in the 37âÂÂ24 road loss.
During Week 16 against the Chiefs, Simmons had three tackles and a pass deflection in the 26âÂÂ9 victory. In the next game against the Saints, he recorded seven tackles and strip-sacked Tyler Shough during the 34âÂÂ26 loss. During the regular season finale against the Jaguars, Simmons had two tackles and a sack in the 41âÂÂ7 road loss.
Simmons finished the 2025 season with 67 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three pass deflections to go along with a touchdown reception in 15 games and starts. He was named to his fourth Pro Bowl and was also named first-team All-Pro.
In college, Simmons was a two-time member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll. Simmons' brother, Dylan Bradley, played football at Southern Miss and then spent time with the Minnesota Vikings while his uncle, Jason Hatcher, played 10 total seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. Away from football, Simmons enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors. He has a son named Jeffery Jr. and two sisters, Brooke and Ashley.
On December 14, 2025, Simmons home was broken into while the team was in Santa Clara, California to play the San Francisco 49ers.
In March 2016, during his senior year in high school, Simmons was arrested and pleaded no contest to assault after a video surfaced showing him repeatedly hitting a woman while she was on the ground during a fight with Simmons' sister and mother.
Following the 2019 Divisional Round game between the Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens, Ravens' guard Marshal Yanda accused Simmons of spitting in his face during the game. This was the first and only time in Yanda's 13-year NFL career that he had publicly accused another player of anything.
The first time Simmons was asked about the event by a reporter during an interview before a practice the following week, Simmons did not directly deny the accusation.