Jeffery Simmons is now the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.
The former Noxubee County and Mississippi State standout has reached a 3-year, $35.3 million extension with the Tennessee Titans, his agent announced on Friday. Simmons’ agreement also includes $100 million guaranteed, marking the first deal of its kind for a defensive tackle.
It was no secret that building around Simmons was a priority for defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh in his first season with the Titans. And it comes as no surprise to NFL fans as to why Simmons is such a hot commodity.
Tennessee finished the 2025-26 season with a 3-14 record, but Simmons was a bright spot in what was otherwise a grueling year for Titans fans. The star defensive tackle finished first in the league in multiple categories, including sacks (11), pressures (60), and turnovers caused by pressure (5).
“Jeffery Simmons is a pillar for our franchise and embodies what it means to be a Titan. He’s the premier defensive tackle in the National Football League, and you win with players like Jeffery,” Titans General Manager Mike Borgonzi said. “Not only is his leadership on the field what we want our program to represent, but off the field, he sets the standard for our community.”
Simmons played for Mississippi State from 2016-18 and is set to begin his eighth professional campaign this fall. Last season, he earned his inaugural first-team All-Pro honor from the AP after landing on the second team in 2021 and 2022. He is also a four-time Pro Bowler and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award finalist.
Off the field, the defensive star has been at the forefront of multiple charitable endeavors, including his foundation aimed at inspiring youth through sport and partnering with Fund Recovery and Research United to locate naloxone vending machines in Mississippi and Tennessee to fight drug overdoses.
Simmons and the Tennessee Titans will begin the upcoming regular season versus one of Saleh’s former employers, the New York Jets, on Sept. 13.
