What we learned about new Chicago Bears DT Jeffery Simmons, a ‘terrifying guy to go against’

Jeffery Simmons had no idea how much his identity was about to change Thursday morning.

He was the face of the Tennessee Titans franchise, at least on the defensive side, when he entered their practice facility.

“Went into the building, sitting down with teammates eating breakfast, got a phone call from my agent and of course he broke the news,” Simmons told the Chicago media Friday at Halas Hall.

The news was seismic: The Bears swung a blockbuster trade to acquire Simmons for two first-round picks — one in next year’s draft and the other in 2028 — as well as a 2027 fourth-round pick. The Bears also received a 2028 fifth-round draft pick.

He called the move a “blessing” but one that carried a lot of emotions. Simmons became a Titan — he became the Titan — when they drafted him with the 19th pick in 2019.

“I’ve tried everything I had into me to pour into the city of Nashville and to that organization,” he said. “Things happen in this business.”

But this one hit home on a personal level.

“You learn that and try to take the feelings out of it, but I tell you, yesterday was pretty hard to have that phone call with my family and to leave my daughter (Mulani),” Simmons said. “That was probably the hardest part yesterday, hugging her before I headed to the airport. Three years old, at that age, they don’t really understand what’s about to happen. From almost seeing her every day of the week to (we’ve) got to figure out that schedule now. It’s been a lot of emotions the last couple days.

“But today felt great. It felt great to get on the practice field, move around with the guys. Being back with Montez (Sweat), that was my road dawg at Mississippi State. So I’m excited to be here, I’m excited to be a Chicago Bear.”

No one was more eager to have Simmons at Halas Hall than defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who likened the trade to an early Christmas present.

“Obviously excited about acquiring Jeffery Simmons,” he said. “He’s a hell of a football player, but as much as he is, the athlete and the skill set that he has. I’m just as intrigued in bringing another guy into the building who has tremendous football and personal character.”

Allen will go about the slow business of integrating Simmons snap by snap and week by week, beginning with a still-to-be-determined number of snaps Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks.

“We will see what he can digest and how much he can take in in a short period of time,” Allen said. “The fact that he is such a professional and really studies the game allows him to catch up pretty quickly.”

Here are three things we learned about Simmons from Halas Hall on Friday.

1. What can he do for the Bears?

Bears guard Jonah Jackson remembers playing against Simmons as a Detroit Lion in December 2020 and during the Bears’ joint practice with the Titans this summer.

“He’s a dynamic player,” Jackson said. “He can play the run very well. He can pass rush incredibly well. … You have to know where he is at all times, and that’s something that strikes some fear into opposing offensive lines. Like they do in Seattle, they’ve got Leonard Williams, Byron Murphy, all those guys, you’ve got to be aware of where they are at all times, just like Jeff Simmons.”

Simmons immediately plugs into the interior next to fellow veteran Grady Jarrett and should continue to see double teams from opposing offensive lines.

“I think any time you have a guy that can be as disruptive as he can be on the interior of your defense, it frees some other guys up too,” Allen said. “But listen, this will be a work in progress in terms of how the defense changes or what changes with what we do or how we do it as we get a chance to see what he can do within our scheme.”

Eventually, Simmons, who is tied for fifth in sacks among defensive linemen with four, should juice up the overall defense, which has been improving steadily.

The Bears’ 37.9% pressure rate ranks 12th, and their 19 sacks is tied for eighth, though they’ve been relying a lot on blitzes (fourth-ranked at 40.6%).

Nickel corner Kyler Gordon and defensive end Austin Booker are tied for the team lead in sacks with four. Dayo Odeyingbo, who is on injured reserve, has three, Sweat two and Jarrett none.

“It’s like I told Grady today, like, if I’m getting in the double (team), I expect you to go win,” Simmons said. “That’s pretty much what it is. Same thing I told Tez. If the tackles could hang on me and you can’t get off the ball and get a free sack, there’s something wrong.

“That just is (the) first-day conversation I’m having with these guys.”

Defensive tackle Kentavius Street already felt a kinship with Simmons as onetime college prospects who tore their ACLs shortly before their respective NFL drafts — Street in 2018 and Simmons in ‘19.

“Jeffery’s been a beast his whole career,” Street said. “And to have him on my team finally is dope. It’s amazing. He’s going to command the slide (from a second offensive lineman or a chipping running back), and so I think it’s going to demand even more one-on-ones for the rest of us. So we all can eat.”

General manager Ray Poles said Sweat “for sure” should be one of the linemates who eats, as Street put it.

“That’s why I really believe that the closest path to the quarterback, to the ball, is inside, and oftentimes that will open up some things on the outside for your guys,” Poles said. “Just talking with Montez, he’s locked in, ready to go. This is one of his guys and I think he elevates his game, being around Jeffery.

“That’s our expectation. I think that’s the expectation he has for himself as well.”

2. Simmons addressed the ‘painted nails’ comment.

Williams famously paints his fingernails in different colors, messages and themes.

In a macho sport, that has drawn attention, especially from a self-branded “smack talker” such as Simmons.

“Painted nails. I can’t wait to say that to him,” Simmons said on the “Rich Eisen Show” in July 2024, a few months before facing Williams in his NFL debut, a 24-17 Bears win.

But Simmons said it hasn’t lingered as an issue. The two shook hands after a practice in Nashville, he said.

“Being a fan of Caleb, of course, being on the other side having to play against him, I’m not going to tell him that,” Simmons said. “I’m going to talk as much smack as I can. But now he’s on my team. We’re teammates now. “I’ll go to war for any of my guys in the locker room. I hope Caleb would know that.”

Williams has seen his fair share of shots about his nails from all corners. But it’s not often you come face-to-face with a peer who was so vocal about it.

“Those comments a couple of years ago about his nails and whatnot, it’s all lips,” Simmons said. “It’s part of my game now with the smack talk. You guys heard that I’m probably one of the best smack talks. I talk a lot of smack when I’m on the field. I’m looking forward to being his teammate. We all know what type of player he is. I’m looking forward to helping him get the ball.”

3. Just in time for Halloween, Press Taylor revisited a ‘terrifying’ story.

Offensive coordinator recalled hearing clapping at Halas Hall around noon Thursday, his first signal that the Bears acquired Simmons.

“And then I get a FaceTime from my brother (Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor), which we don’t normally talk until like late in the week, with just a huge smile,” he said. “And I’m like, ‘Thank you. We’re excited.’ And he’s like, ‘No. We play the Titans this week.’ Oh, so that makes a lot more sense for why you’re excited.”

Press Taylor held some no-so-fond memories of Simmons as the former offensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I was in the (AFC South) division for four years with the guy and I know it’s a nightmare,” he said. “Twice a year it was an absolute nightmare having to deal with him — just being aware of where he is, how you’re blocking him every given play. And you know what he’s going to do.

“He’s a high-motor, incredibly productive, terrifying guy to go against. I’m glad we’re not going against him anymore.”