Jan. 10, 2026, 11:21 a.m. ET

When Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi interviews potential candidates for the team’s open head coaching position, he will have one ace to pull out: defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.

Simmons is coming off his best season in the NFL, was a dominant force for the Titans’ depleted defense, and developed both on and off the field as a leader. His tremendous 2025 saw him set career highs in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles, and he led the NFL in multiple categories en route to Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors. 

The honors continue to roll in for the unquestioned leader of the Titans, with the latest accolade coming from Pro Football Focus (PFF), which named him first-team All-Pro. 

Dl: Cameran Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers

DE: Jeffery Simmons, Tennessee Titans

(Second Team: Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys; Kobie Turner, Los Angeles Rams)

Heyward was the only interior defender to earn a 90.0-plus PFF grade this season and the only player at the position to post PFF grades above 80.0 as both a pass-rusher and a run defender. Simmons made his biggest impact as a pass-rusher, leading the position in PFF pass-rush grade (91.4) while ranking second in total pressures (64).

Simmons is a building block for the Titans franchise as it rebuilds its culture this offseason and is a significant part of the team’s future. 

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