Former Titans Teammate Gives Insight on Bears D-lineman Jeffery Simmons

When defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons hit the practice field for the first time at Halas Hall as a member of the Chicago Bears, he warmed up and stretched next to James Lynch.

They spent two seasons together with the Tennessee Titans from 2023-24. Simmons was drafted No. 19 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft and had already established himself as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the league for the six seasons he had played in Tennessee. 

Lynch, a fourth-round pick from the Minnesota Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft, tore his ACL in the final year of his rookie contract, missing the entire 2023 season. Minnesota re-signed him to a 1-year deal, but he was cut going into the preseason. The Titans took a chance on the 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive lineman and he played in all 17 games for the two seasons he spent in Tennessee. 

Now the two are reunited in Chicago and Simmons is away from an organization he called home for the last eighty years. He warmed up in the corner of the end zone on the practice field at Halas Hall with the rest of the team and Lynch to his left. 

Lynch is also in his first year with the Bears, and he shared the connection he has with Simmons. 

"He's someone that helped me grow in football," Lynch told Roundtable Sports. "I showed up in Tennessee 2 years ago and you think you know football, and then you get around someone like that, and he teaches you a lot, so he helped my career out and made me a better player. So obviously off the field as well, he's a really, really good person and takes care of the community, and all that sort of thing. So when you get around him, you realize how good of a person he is, and it's someone that you gravitate towards."

Like general manager Ryan Poles, head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, Lynch believes he is a "really good" addition to the defensive line and is someone who elevates the entire room. 

When asked what he can add to this defense, Lynch focused on the intangibles and culture he brings to the unit.

"I think the simplest thing is he wants to win and I know how hard he works and how hard he studies the game and he loves it," Lynch said. "So just knowing that you get a team that really wants to win and play with the guys and like really do well, it makes it fun, it's a good environment to be in."

Simmons brings 106 games of experience, 46.5 sacks, 9 forced fumbles and 414 combined tackles across three All-Pro seasons. He's know for his violent play style and is someone who won't hesitate to talk trash to opponents. 

But Lynch also highlighted he's a cerebral player, making Simmons a complete defensive lineman. 

"That's kind of what I mean of the love of the game of the way he studies and the way he knows what he's supposed to do," Lynch said. "I mean, he's got a lot of his plate right now, and I have full trust in him because I know how much he wants to do right. And wants to do well, so it's really impressive to see that he has the full, the full gambit. He doesn't have any holes in his game, you know what I'm saying? To hustle, to play, to mental, all this stuff, so it's impressive to watch."

Simmons helped Lynch acclimate to the Titans two years ago and now the opposite is happening in Chicago. The anticipation is for Simmons to make his Bears debut on Monday Night Football against the reigning Super Bowl Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. 

The Bears will do everything they can to ensure the newest member of the defense is ready to make his impact felt in the primetime matchup. 

"Obviously, like I said, he kind of has his routine," Lynch said. "He does his own thing, but if he needs anything, if I can help, I'm gonna help him, and we all will. And that's that's the good thing about our room is we're close, and we got good coaches on the staff as well, so it's a group effort and whatever he needs, will make sure he has it."