NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons has been named Week 17’s NFL Players Association Community MVP for his outreach work with local youth.
The NFLPA said he was selected after hosting a week of “impactful initiatives” aimed at helping children and teens. On December 16, for example, the association said Simmons took four high school seniors to Men’s Wearhouse to get custom-tailored suits for prom, interviews, and signing days.
He even helped the students, who are part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, learn how to tie their new ties.
Days before that, Simmons gave 20 Big Brothers Big Sisters kids $400 each to shop for clothes, gear, and essentials. He also donated $5,000 to Hunter Lane High School to support the girls’ flag football team.
“I’m honored to be named the NFLPA Community MVP,” Simmons said in a press release. “This recognition reflects the incredible work that is being done in our amazing community. I’m grateful to continue to use my platform to be a light in my community.”
This is Simmons’ second Community MVP honor with the association. He received his first honor in 2023 after he gave turkeys to more than 500 Nashville families for Thanksgiving.
And Simmons isn’t limiting his outreach to Tennessee. He returns to his hometown of Macon, Mississippi, to host a community event every year. The mayor of Macon gave Simmons the first-ever key to the city for his initiatives.
“Simmons’ consistent off-field presence has made him a source of inspiration throughout his Nashville community since being drafted by the Titans in 2019,” the NFLPA said. “By showing up week after week, he continues to prioritize mentorship, access, and encouragement for young people navigating pivotal moments in their lives.”
Simmons is the first Titans player to receive the honor this season, and it comes just weeks after his Nashville home was broken into while the Titans were in San Francisco. Home surveillance video captured several suspects entering his home after smashing through windows.
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons got emotional on Thursday as he discussed the Sunday break-in at his Nashville home, wiping tears from his eyes as he asked, “What if my mom was at the house?” He also said the incident highlights the importance of community outreach, saying, “it could’ve happened to anybody … it looked like young kids and young adults too that are just lost right now. That’s the reason why we’ve got to continue to use our platform.” #jefferysimmons #tennesseetitans #titans #nfl
In an emotional interview a few days after the break-in, Simmons told reporters that incidents such as this are why he focuses on community outreach.
“You do it, try to impact somebody’s life. … My message to my teammates and people around the league, to continue to pour into our youth,” he said, adding that the suspects on his surveillance footage “look like young kids.”
“They look like young adults, too, that just lost right now,” Simmons said.
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