The Chicago Bears knew why they traded for Jeffery Simmons long before they pulled the trigger. General manager Ryan Poles had been a big admirer of the All-Pro defensive tackle for years. In fact, for the past two years he’d been trying to find a way to swing a deal. The Tennessee Titans just weren’t willing to entertain offers until now. Poles knew it would be expensive, but he felt Simmons was the caliber of player that is incredibly hard to find in this league. Mind you, it wasn’t only about the physical tools.
Granted, Simmons has many. He is big, strong, quick, and explosive. Trying to block him without double teams is asking for trouble. However, one of the biggest draws for the Bears was his reputation as a leader. Despite playing on some bad Titans teams, nobody ever questioned what Simmons meant to that unit. His willingness to hold himself and others accountable is why that defense frankly overachieved over the past few years. If you thought he’d keep things discreet upon joining the Bears and mesh with the locker room gradually, you don’t know him at all.
He set the tone from the moment he arrived, telling his new defensive line mates that he expects them to get to the quarterback when he starts drawing double teams.
Jeffery Simmons has no time for easing into things.
He was brought here to win a championship. It is why the Bears traded so much to get him. There is nothing gradual about this. If the Bears are going to accomplish that objective, he must integrate as quickly as possible. If they want him to be a leader, then he intends to lead—no tiptoeing around anybody. Guys will know what his expectations are for both them and himself. He demonstrated that presence of mind from the outset.
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“This team believes in what they have here, and they want it right now. My game, my passion, my energy, my leadership, I can only help this team even more than what it’s got. This is a great locker room from quarterback all the way down. So, my job is to come in here and be nothing more than but myself. I’m excited to be able to help this team compete for a championship.”
People talk about force multipliers in football. Those are guys who make teammates around them better. Jeffery Simmons is one of those few who qualify. It isn’t a coincidence that players like Harold Landry, Denico Autry, DeMarcus Walker, Arden Key, and Jihad Ward all set career highs in sacks during their careers when playing alongside him. Austin Booker already has 4 sacks this season. Try to imagine what he and Montez Sweat might accomplish with Simmons suddenly creating havoc in the middle. To say nothing of what the interior could look like when Dayo Odeyingbo returns in a few weeks.
This is a level the Bears haven’t reached in a long time.
They haven’t had a defensive tackle of this caliber probably since peak Tommie Harris, at least. He might actually be closer to Dan Hampton. The guy is unblockable in every phase of the game. This isn’t just a great pass rusher teams can avoid by running the ball more often. He’s devastating there too. Simmons takes immense pride in being a complete player. There is no escaping him. That forces offenses to devote extra resources his way, and thus away from his teammates.
Simmons is doing exactly what the Bears brought him in to do: seize control and elevate this defense. Be the beating heart. While the team isn’t short on talent on that side of the ball, nobody has really filled that role. Some guys have the voice but not the production. Others have the opposite. Simmons has both. That will garner immediate respect from the locker room.
