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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Isaiah Simmons 'very grateful' for New York Giants: 'They lit a fire under me'
Isaiah Simmons 'very grateful' for New York Giants: 'They lit a fire under me' Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons was the eighth player selected in the 2020 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. A mercurial talent, the Cardinals couldn't quite figure out what to do with Simmons. They tried him at linebacker and on special teams, but he just could not seem to recapture the spark and impact of his college days. Simmons was traded to the New York Giants, where he dressed for every game the next two seasons, even starting in five of them. But the Giants also couldn't make Simmons fit. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound linebacker/safety/tweener was found to be most useful on special teams. Last season, Simmons was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in the Giants' October 6 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The Giants chose not to re-sign Simmons after last season. He was picked up by the Green Bay Packers this spring where he hopes to finally realize his full potential as a linebacker. "I think really what I ran into most of my career is everybody wants me to do everything as opposed to letting me get really good at one thing first," Simmons said after Packers minicamp on Thursday. "I fully believe in Haf's (defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley) plan. He's letting me just lock in and learn a small portion first before we even think about expanding to anything else. That's something I really appreciate because I never really had that opportunity to really just hone in on one position. "That's been huge for me. It's something … that hasn't been presented to me because my versatility, I feel like it's a little bit of a gift and a curse, where they want you to do everything but, at the end of the day, I'm still a human." Simmons is ready to take on the next chapter of his career partly because the Giants gave him a chance to continue his NFL career the past two seasons. "I'm actually very grateful for New York for what they did," Simmons said. "They lit a fire under me, and I'm ready to go." The Giants are flush with natural linebackers and safeties these days. There was no way the Simmons experiment could have continued with the roster they have this year. He appears to be content, though, in his new digs in Green Bay. Maybe he will finally get his due.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers fans are excited about free agent signing of linebacker Isaiah Simmons, potential in Jeff Hafley's defense
The NFL Draft might be over but the Green Bay Packers have continued to add to their roster. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst signed a former top 10 draft pick in linebacker Isaiah Simmons, who spent the last two years with the New York Giants. Advertisement Could it be a steal of free agency? Simmons, who was the country's top linebacker for the national runner-up Clemson Tigers in 2019, brings with him athleticism, ball-hawking abilities and potential that defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will look to unlock. Simmons isn't in Green Bay yet, but he introduced himself to Packers fans with a cheese emoji on social media this week. The man, at least, knows his audience. Packers fans on X were excited about the arrival of the 6-foot-4, 238-pound Simmons. Isaiah Simmons age Simmons is 26 years old. He'll turn 27 on July 26. Isaiah Simmons 40 time Simmons brings lightning speed that should bode well in any defensive scheme. At the 2020 NFL Combine, he led all linebackers with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. Isaiah Simmons draft pick Simmons, who won a national championship with Clemson his sophomore season in 2018, was the eighth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Advertisement He was the fourth defensive player taken in the draft and first linebacker off the board. Isaiah Simmons stats Simmons will be entering his sixth season in 2025. He hasn't missed a game during his five-year career with his most productive seasons coming during his second and third seasons with the Cardinals. After earned All-Rookie honors from the Pro Football Writers of America, he continued to elevate his game. In 2021, Simmons' 105 tackles was third on the Cardinals and his 99 tackles were fourth in 2022. His role changed when he was traded to the Giants. Now in a reserve role as a defensive back, his production on defense dropped (50 tackles in 2023 to 21 in 2024 with decreased playing time). He thrived on special teams, though. In a Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks last season, Simmons had a blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown. The performance earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He also had a fumble recovery on a kickoff in 2023. Advertisement Simmons has two interceptions returned for touchdowns in his career. Here are his career stats: Games: 84 Total tackles: 329 (226 solo, 103 assisted) Sacks: 8.5 sacks Forced fumbles: 9 Interceptions : 5 Touchdowns: 2 Passes defended: 21 Stuffs: 17 Isaiah Simmons highlights Here's a collection of some of Simmons' highlights in the NFL and in college: This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Who is Packers linebacker Isaiah Simmons? Stats, highlights, 40 time
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Clemson superstar Isaiah Simmons lands with the Green Bay Packers
Former Clemson superstar Isaiah Simmons lands with the Green Bay Packers Former Clemson standout Isaiah Simmons has found his next NFL stop. Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Simmons is signing a one-year deal with the Green Bay Packers after a recent free agent visit with the team. Simmons, known for his versatility, spent the 2023 season with the New York Giants, appearing in all 17 games and making one start. He totaled 21 tackles, a quarterback hit, a forced fumble, and two pass breakups. One of his season highlights came in Week 5 against the Seahawks, when he blocked a potential game-tying field goal, leading to a 60-yard return touchdown that secured the Giants' win. That performance earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. A first-round pick (No. 8 overall) by the Arizona Cardinals in 2020, Simmons played three seasons in Arizona before being traded to New York. Over his four-year NFL career, Simmons has appeared in 84 games (42 starts), compiling 329 total tackles, 8.5 sacks, 13 QB hits, 21 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and five interceptions — two of which he returned for scores. At Clemson, Simmons was a dynamic defensive presence from 2016-19, transitioning from safety to linebacker and winning the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2019. He finished his college career with 253 tackles (28.5 for loss), 10.5 sacks, 22 pass breakups, four interceptions, and five forced fumbles across 44 games. Now 26, Simmons brings his athleticism and playmaking ability to a Packers defense looking to add depth and experience at linebacker. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Green Bay Packers signing ex-New York Giants DB Isaiah Simmons
Green Bay Packers signing ex-New York Giants DB Isaiah Simmons Former New York Giants linebacker/defensive back Isaiah Simmons has agreed to terms with the Green Bay Packers. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news. The signing comes two days after the 2025 NFL draft and following the deadline for the compensatory pick formula. Simmons was originally the Arizona Cardinals' first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in the 2020 NFL draft. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team that year but quickly became positionless as Arizona changed systems. Shortly after declining his fifth-year option in 2023, the Cardinals traded Simmons to the Giants for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. In two seasons with the Giants, Simmons, who was moved to defensive back, appeared in 34 games (five starts), recording 71 tackles (45 solo, two for a loss), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two QB hits, one sack, five passes defensed, one interception, and one defensive touchdown. Simmons also excelled on special teams, including a blocked field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 5 of last season that was returned for a touchdown by wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NFL draft preview: Where do Chicago Bears stand at special teams?
2025 NFL draft preview: Where do Chicago Bears stand at special teams? The Chicago Bears are in the middle of an important offseason, where they're looking to develop into a contender under new head coach Ben Johnson. Following a busy free agency that included some big-name additions, including offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman, as well as defensive linemen Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo, the Bears are shifting their focus toward the 2025 NFL draft. Chicago has seven draft picks, even after their two trades, including four in the Top 75 -- 10th overall, a pair of high second rounders and a third-round selection. Here at Bears Wire, we're going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2025 NFL draft. We're wrapping things up with special teams, which appears to be set in stone as the Bears return their three starters from a year ago. Who's on the roster? Cairo Santos Tory Taylor Scott Daly Cairo Santos has brought stability to the Bears kicking position which had been lacking since Robbie Gould. But Santos had his worst season since joining the Bears. He wasn't terrible, but there were some notable ups and downs. He connected on just 84% of his field goals in 2024, which was his lowest since signing with Chicago. His biggest struggle came in the 40-49 range, where he connected on just 5-of-8. By contrast, Santos made every field goal but one beyond 50 yards, including the game-winner against the Packers in the season finale. Santos' longest field goal of the season was a 54-yarder against the Texans in Week 2. The Bears stunned everyone when they used a fourth-round pick on punter Tory Taylor, but he proved to be one of the more reliable players on the roster. In his first season with Chicago, Taylor showcased his booming leg and how he can flip the field. That's not to say his season was perfect, but he was a clear upgrade over former punter Trenton Gill. Taylor averaged 47.7 yards per punt, downed 34 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and his longest punt was 68 yards. Patrick Scales had long been a mainstay at long snapper, but a back injury thrust Scott Daly into the starting lineup for the entire 2024 season. He did miss most of the Jaguars game in London, where he was replaced by tight end Cole Kmet, who won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his emergency services. But Daly showed the Bears enough to earn a one-year contract extension. Who departed this offseason? Patrick Scales While Scales served as Chicago's long snapper since 2015, he had season-ending back surgery before the start of the 2024 season that ended his season. It also ultimately cost him his job, as Scott Daly proved to be a reliable replacement, who earned a one-year extension. Positional need: Low Chicago made some moves during free agency to extend a couple of core special teamers in Josh Blackwell and Amen Ogbongbemiga. But as far as the core three specialists go, everything appears set this season, barring some unforeseen circumstance. While Chicago did use a fourth-round pick on Tory Taylor in last year's NFL draft, that won't be the case in this year's draft. Despite Cairo Santos' struggles last season, the Bears feel content to roll with him again next season rather than sign or draft a kicker. Scott Daly proved himself to be a reliable long snapper with Patrick Scales out for the season, which earned Daly a one-year extension. Top draft prospects Andre Borregales, PK James Burnip, P Ben Sauls, PK Ryan Fitzgerald, PK Luke Elzinga, P The Bears aren't necessarily in the market for a kicker with Cairo Santos locked down for another couple of years, but it wouldn't be a complete surprise if they brought in competition in the final rounds of the NFL draft or via undrafted free agency. There are several NFL-ready placekickers in this draft class, including Andre Borregales, Ben Sauls and Ryan Fitzgerald. Chicago certainly won't be looking for a punter after using a fourth-round pick on Tory Taylor last year, but there are some solid punters for teams in need, including James Burnip and Luke Elzinga. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter and Facebook
