Bears bolster D, acquire Jeffery Simmons from Titans

The Chicago Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans on Thursday with the deal pending a physical.

The Titans will receive first-round draft picks in 2027 and 2028 and a fourth-round selection in 2027 in the deal, while the Bears also receive a fifth-round pick in 2028.

Simmons signed a three-year extension this summer worth $105.8 million -- with $100 million guaranteed -- through the 2030 season. The $35.27 million annual average salary made him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, surpassing the Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones ($31.75M average).

Simmons, 29, has four sacks and 38 tackles in seven games (all starts) this season.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Simmons recorded a career-best 11 sacks in 2025. He also set personal bests with 17 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback hits.

"There are few people like Jeff Simmons. We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.

"His formidable presence on the field was surpassed only by what he did off it. He gave Nashville more than football. The Give 'Em A Reason Foundation has changed lives in Middle Tennessee and in Mississippi, and I have no doubt it will continue to wherever he goes.

"Jeff -- thank you. For how you played, how you led, and how you represented our team."

The trade comes one day after Simmons told reporters that he was unaware if he would be traded.

"Each and every day I wake up, my goal is to be where my feet are at," Simmons said. "I'm never looking ahead, just being in the moment each and every day. I don't worry about the things that I can't control. Those types of things are also a distraction -- that's a lot of fans and outside media. I haven't heard anything from my agent; I haven't heard anything from this organization. As far as I know, I am going to be here."

Simmons has 414 tackles, 46.5 sacks, 72 tackles for loss, nine forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries in 106 games (104 starts) since being selected by the Titans with the 19th overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.

--Field Level Media