Why Bears DT Jeffery Simmons Stands Alone Among NFL Defensive Linemen

Jeffery Simmons is different. 

His Bears teammates feel his presence when he lines up on the defensive front, and the opposing offense must account for him on every snap. He’s one of the rare defensive linemen in the league who rarely takes plays off. 

Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football for his debut at Soldier Field, fans got to see plenty of the three-time All-Pro defensive tackle. Simmons played 66 of 68 total defensive snaps (97.1%). 

At 6-foot-4, 305 pounds, he’s one of the biggest players on the field but that doesn’t stop the eight-year pro from finding the ball carrier from sideline to sideline. In the 27-24 win over the Buccaneers, quarterback Caleb Williams threw four interceptions, three in the second quarter, forcing Chicago’s defense to make stops off the sudden changes. 

After Williams’ third interception, the Buccaneers took over Chicago’s 43-yard line. Tampa Bay quarterback Baker Mayfield threw a quick screen pass to wide receiver Emeka Egbuka to start the drive, and the Buccaneers’ playmaker followed his blocks and broke free into the third level of Chicago’s defense. It looked like Egbuka was set to score, but trailing behind him was Simmons, who dove at the receiver’s feet to trip him up for a 21-yard gain. Egbuka looked frustrated after the play. 

The Buccaneers settled for a field goal on the drive, the only points Tampa Bay scored off of Williams’ interceptions. 

According to Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice, Simmons traveled 422.04 yards in the first half – the most of any Bucs or Bears defensive lineman or edge defender from scrimmage. That was also more than Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving’s 371.58 yards, per Next Gen Stats. 

Simmons elaborated on how he positions himself to not only stay on the field but also make plays all over it. 

“I feel like man the way I work, the way I take care of my body, the way I approach this game, I don’t really feel it when I’m out there,” Simmons said. “It’s like, that’s my game. That’s what I do, and a lot of people always ask me what separates me from the other guys around this league cause everyone is good. I mean, we saw today; I probably got double-teamed 99% of the day, and let’s go back to saying, how can I affect the game when I’m not hitting the quarterback, when I’m not getting tackles for loss in the backfield, when teams know they can’t run the ball inside and they bouncing the ball outside, so it’s, how can I be around the football?

I take a lot of pride in being around the football. Just never know; the ball may pop out, or I can force a fumble. I can save a touchdown just by running to the ball, so I use this week, this upcoming week, very wisely to take care of my body. Been a long, what is this, nine weeks now. It’s all about getting my body ready for the back end of the season because that is when it really matters."

Every time the Bears' defense takes the field, Simmons gives the unit a disruptive playmaker who will not be outworked. That's one of his elite traits that separates him from other players in the NFL. For a defense entering a critical stretch following their bye week, Simmons isn't just filling a position on Chicago's D-line, he's setting the tone for how the entire unit competes.