Bears acquire Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in blockbuster trade
The Chicago Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in a blockbuster trade, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Thursday.
Chicago made the move as it continues a strong start to the season; the Bears have won two straight to improve to 5-2 and will play Monday night at Seattle, led by quarterback Caleb Williams as they chase the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North. Last season the Bears won the division for the first time since 2018, finishing 11-6 in coach Ben Johnson’s first year and advancing past the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime in the divisional round.
The person said Chicago sent its first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, plus a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft, to Tennessee for Simmons and a fifth-round selection in 2028. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson have been active in evaluating roster needs, and the addition of Simmons addresses concerns about Chicago’s defensive line that had been described as questionable. Team officials framed the transaction as part of an effort to improve the roster not only this season but in future years.
Asked Wednesday about his role with the NFL trade deadline coming up on 10 November, Johnson said there was "a lot going on." He added: "That’s certainly Ryan’s domain, and yet we have constant dialogue of what this team needs and where we can impact ourselves not just this year but years in the future as well. He’s turning over every stone that he possibly can to improve this football team just like he has ever since I’ve gotten in this building and I feel really good about our process. We’ll see what happens."
The 29-year-old Simmons has four sacks in seven games this season and was a first-team All-Pro selection last year when he had a career-high 11 sacks in 15 games. When asked Wednesday about the possibility of being traded, Simmons said: "Each and every day I wake up, my goal is to just be where my feet are at, never looking ahead right now, it’s just be in the moment, and that’s from each and every day, from game day, my goal just never changes. I don’t worry about the things I can’t control. Them types of things are a distraction."
The pricey deal was portrayed by Chicago officials as a move aimed at winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl title since 1985 and was reported ahead of the NFL trade deadline on 10 November.