Former Mississippi State standout Jeffery Simmons will soon be reunited with college teammate Montez Sweat.
The Tennessee Titans were part of a landmark trade that sent the star defensive tackle to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a pair of first-round picks, the Ringer’s Tom Pelissero first reported on Thursday morning. Simmons entered the 2026-27 season as the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL after signing a 3-year, $35.3 million extension with the Titans. The Bears will now pick up that contract.
Simmons has been a dominant force in the trenches in his eight years as a pro. He earned first-team All-Pro honors from the AP last year, 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. Last season, Simmons finished first in the league in multiple categories, including sacks (11), pressures (60), and turnovers caused by pressure (5).
This year has been much of the same. Simmons, through seven games, has logged 38 total tackles, 4 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He has been the bright spot of a Robert Saleh-coached franchise that has won just one game at this point in the season.
The trade to Chicago will not only land Simmons next to a familiar friend in Sweat, but it will also make him an integral part of a winning team. Chicago currently boasts a 5-2 record and seems to be clicking on all cylinders offensively, with play-calling guru Ben Johnson and talented signal caller Caleb Williams wreaking havoc on defenses. Simmons’ arrival is expected to give the Bears a stronger defensive presence and make the team a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Simmons, a Noxubee County High School alum, and Sweat played together at Mississippi State in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. The duo was part of one of the nation’s most dominant defensive fronts, often called the “D-block” under head coaches Dan Mullen and Joe Moorhead. Both have been notable pros since their time in Starkville.
The Bears expect to have Simmons available to make his debut in the team’s upcoming Monday Night Football game against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
