What Stood Out to DT Jeffery Simmons After Joining the Chicago Bears

All it takes is the right head coach to turn an organization around. 

The Chicago Bears are not far from being the dysfunctional organization that made a complete laughingstock of itself throughout the 2024 NFL season. The team gave up free yards before a successful Hail Mary against the Washington Commanders; didn't use a timeout on a fourth-quarter drive against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving; and fired coaches throughout the year. 

Before defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons joined the Bears' organization in a massive trade that sent two first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Titans in exchange for the three-time All-Pro this season, he played Chicago in Week 1 of that year. 

That type of aggressive move would have been unthinkable during Matt Eberflus' last season. However, two years later, the Bears have firmly left that embarrassing chapter behind and it's all thanks to head coach Ben Johnson. After clinching the NFC North with an 11-6 record and securing the franchise's first playoff victory since the 2010 season in his first year at the helm, Johnson has Chicago sitting atop the division at 7-2. Now, the Bears aren't just defending their NFC North title, they are well in pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy. 

Simmons joined the Rich Eisen Show and discussed what he initially noticed when he joined the Bears' organization and if he has the Super Bowl on his mind.

"I can guarantee you that if an NFL player tell you it's not a thought of theirs to go to the Super Bowl, I would say they lying," Simmons said. "But for me, it's also one day at a time, one game at a time, and I really think everything will take care of itself. We have a great team, you know, a lot of things go into that. It takes all three phases, like you just said and then the health of the team. I feel like if we can stay healthy and continue to get healthier, the sky is the limit for this team. I truly feel that. ... When I walked into the building, I walked into these meeting room, you could feel what Coach Ben is preaching and trying to build in Chicago. The confidence in the guys they have in the building before I got there, you could tell, like, as I'm walking into team meetings, walking around the building, when I first got to meet the guys, you could tell there is a lot of confidence in that building. ..."

Simmons also highlighted Johnson's postgame stanky leg celebration and how that loose energy breathes confidence into the team. At the same time, Simmons also recognizes that Johnson challenges his players and refuses to let them get comfortable. That mentality goes back to Johnson's introductory press conference, and it fits perfectly with how Simmons operates, a big reason the defensive tackle is in Chicago to help win a Super Bowl.