Jeffery Simmons needed time to process his trade from the Tennessee Titans to the Chicago Bears. Although the move put the defensive tackle on a team with championship ambitions, he said he had not expected to leave Tennessee.
“It was one of those things where I just didn’t think that would happen to me,” Simmons said.
The Bears acquired Simmons in a deal that cost two first-round picks, along with a fourth- and fifth-round pick swap. Now in his eighth NFL season, Simmons said he had a strong relationship with Tennessee’s ownership and viewed himself as a key figure in the locker room.
“I was like really pissed off that it really happened right then and there,” he said. Simmons explained that he felt he had continued to give the organization everything he had on the field, in the locker room, at practice and in the community.
He added that his efforts in Tennessee were not wasted, but the trade still caught him by surprise. “I just didn’t feel and think that this would actually happen to me,” Simmons said.
## Simmons Has Made an Immediate Impact in Chicago
The Bears have benefited quickly from Simmons’ arrival. In his first two games with Chicago, he recorded 10 tackles, including three tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass breakups. His performance has strengthened the defensive line and helped ease the pressure on a banged-up secondary that has struggled to contain explosive receivers.
Chicago won Simmons’ debut against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. The Bears then defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field, winning by a field goal despite committing five turnovers.
At 7-2, Chicago entered its bye week leading the competitive NFC North. Simmons’ early production has helped raise expectations for the defense and contributed to the Bears’ status as a legitimate contender.
