NFL Man of the Year Nominees | Titans | NFL.com

Jeffery Simmons

TENNESSEE TITANS

EXCELLENCE ON THE FIELD

Jeffery Simmons is a two-time Pro Bowler, four-time team captain, and the anchor of the number one defense in the league this season. The Titans' defense has held that title in eight of the first nine weeks of the season, limiting opponents to just 269.1 yards per game. Last season, Simmons recorded his third consecutive season with five or more sacks, despite playing in only 12 games due to injury. Since the beginning of his second NFL season in 2020, Simmons has racked up 27.5 sacks. In that time, he ranks in the NFL's top 10 (7th) in sacks among defensive tackles. From the time Simmons entered the NFL as a first-round pick in 2019 through the end of the 2023 campaign, he was one of only four NFL players with at least 200 total tackles, 25 sacks, and 20 passes defensed. He was one of only two interior defensive linemen to accomplish the feat.

DEMONSTRATES POSITIVE CHARACTER & MODELS A LIFESTYLE OF GIVING BACK

Jeffery Simmons is a two times Pro Bowler, four-time Titans team captain, and a four-time NFL Top 100 Player, but perhaps his most impactful title and accomplishment is being a second time nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year. At the very beginning of his career, Simmons made a big promise to himself – to keep service and love of community at the heart of everything he does. This is a promise he continues to keep every single day. Raised by a single mother with five children, Simmons learned the value of hard work at a young age – his mother being his inspiration. His mother worked hard to keep her family going, but she never missed a birthday. His mission since stepping on the field as a five-year-old has always been to make his family proud, give them a better life, and give back to others, especially kids who are growing up similarly to him. Give 'Em a Reason Foundation is the long-term legacy Simmons hopes to leave, offering kids from a similar background a reason to hope, reach, grow, and never give up. With great intentionality, Simmons hand-selects the organizations who will benefit, and he goes beyond writing checks; he shows up. He sees the need for male role models and mentors, and he answers the call. "Each and every day that's my goal. If I see a young kid, I never turn a kid down for a picture because they look up to us, and we set examples by giving back to our community," said Simmons. "We need to let these kids know they can be here, no matter if they want to be a lawyer, or whatever it may be, you know, whatever. Never give up on your dreams."

DEDICATION & COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY EFFORTS

THIS YEAR

Since joining the NFL, Jeffery Simmons cemented his life's mission by way of community involvement and philanthropy, especially as it relates to children. Simmons' Give 'Em A Reason Foundation aims to inspire youth and promote youth empowerment through sport, by way of self-esteem building and opportunity creation. Give 'Em a Reason intends to serve as the answer to many kids' questions of "why" when they are looking for a reason to have hope and carry on through adversity. Paying homage to his roots, Simmons continually gives back to his hometown in Mississippi. Simmons was instrumental in reviving the youth football and cheerleading programs by providing a $50,000 donation to Noxubee Titans, along with ongoing support for the growth of their programs. The funds helped participants afford uniforms, practice equipment, and field maintenance. Earlier this year, Simmons also hosted a Community Funday in Macon, Mississippi, inviting neighbors to a block party. Additionally, 2024 marked the inaugural Jeffery Simmons Youth Football Camp in Starkville, Mississippi, hosting more than 500 youth. In partnership with Dick's Sporting Goods, Simmons surprised athletes in Starkville, Mississippi, with a shopping spree for football gear, shoes, and more ahead of the coming school year. Amid his 6th season with the Titans, Simmons calls Nashville his second home, opening his heart and resources to kids in the Middle Tennessee community. This year, Simmons assumed the role of honorary chair for Rally on the Runway, supporting a leading pediatric cancer research foundation. As chair, Simmons recruits fellow Titans players and alumni to escort kids impacted by childhood cancer down the runway for a fashion show fundraiser. The 2023 event raised $479,229 towards fighting childhood cancer. Simmons continues to be a staple in the Nashville community, appearing at local high school football games for Titans Fireball Fridays and elementary schools for T-Rac School Shows. He also recently invited kids from Franktown Open Hearts on a shopping trip at Dick's Sporting Goods in Nashville. As Simmons expands his philanthropic platform, he aims to inspire new advocates to support his cause. This year, he hosted the first annual fundraiser for his foundation, Give 'Em a Reason. The inaugural event welcomed hundreds of attendees, including fellow professional athletes, advocates, local celebrities, and fans for cocktails and conversation in Nashville, Tennessee. He also recently supported the Nashville Rescue Mission by serving lunch and matching donations from the yearly coat drive ahead of the colder season. In just two years, Give 'Em A Reason Foundation has supported nearly 20 different organizations and has plans for continued growth for years to come.

IN YEARS PAST

Entering the league in 2019, Jeffery Simmons began building a formidable legacy and using his platform to impact the community, inspiring generational change for youth. Establishing the Give Em' A Reason Foundation has been a North Star for Simmons throughout his career. As an inspiring role model for many young boys and girls, Simmons never shies away from an opportunity to make dreams come true. Last year, Simmons hosted 6-year-old Make A Wish Kid Mason at the Titans practice facility for a day packed with activities and an extremely competitive game of Madden. Mason, who is fighting Osteosarcoma, is a Titans super fan, and an even bigger fan of Jeffery Simmons. He attended practice, even getting in a few reps and showing off his touchdown dance from his wheelchair. A longtime advocate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBS), Simmons hosted an event during the 2023 NFL Draft to recruit mentors for the organization. The event welcomed hundreds of interested parties who heard first-hand the impact BBBS has had on both Simmons and the community. He also served in a national capacity with the organization, participating in events surrounding the Pro Bowl. During Thanksgiving of 2023, Simmons wanted to ensure all families could celebrate the holiday tradition regardless of cost. He set up a drive-thru turkey distribution event at Nissan Stadium. Anyone in need of a holiday meal was welcomed to the stadium and received a turkey delivered directly to their car from Jeffery Simmons himself. He fed more than 500 families, resulting in Simmons being named Week 12 NFLPA Community MVP. For the past several Christmases, Simmons has partnered with companies like Dick's Sporting Goods to provide local kids in need with a shopping spree prior to the holiday season. Simmons spends the evening with a group of kids helping them pick out items for themselves and gifts for family members and loved ones. Simmons always utilizes league initiatives as an opportunity to raise awareness for important causes like Crucial Catch and "My Cause, My Cleats." Each year, Simmons chooses an individual and cause to support, fully utilizing his gameday platform. Last year, Simmons went to American Cancer Society's Hope Lodge in Nashville to surprise cancer patients and their families with a special lunch during Crucial Catch month. In true team captain fashion, Simmons recruited other members of the team to join him, making a very special memory for the families touched by cancer.