Isaiah Simmons (born July 26, 1998) is an American football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Arizona Cardinals eighth overall in the 2020 NFL draft. While at Clemson, Simmons was noted for his positional versatility as he played linebacker, defensive end, cornerback and safety.
 Simmons at Olathe North in 2016 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 19 – New York Giants | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | July 26, 1998 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. | ||||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 238 lb (108 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Olathe North (Olathe, Kansas) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Clemson (2016–2019) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 8 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2023 | |||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||
Early life
editIsaiah Simmons was born in Omaha, Nebraska on July 26, 1998.[1][2] He later attended Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas, playing defensive back and wide receiver. He committed to Clemson University in February 2016.[3]
College career
editSimmons redshirted his first year at Clemson in 2016. As a safety in 2017, he played in 14 games, recording 49 tackles and one sack.[4] In 2018, he converted to linebacker.[5] In 15 games, Simmons had 97 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception.[6][7] He returned to Clemson in 2019 rather than enter the 2019 NFL draft.[8] Simmons received the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker for his performance that year.[9] After graduating in December 2019 with a degree in sports communication, Simmons announced that he would forgo his senior year by declaring for the 2020 NFL draft.[10][11] During his time at Clemson, Simmons was noted for his positional versatility, taking snaps at linebacker, defensive end, cornerback, and safety.[12][13]
College statistics
edit| Year | Team | Class | GP | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FF | FR | ||||
| 2016 | Clemson | FR | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | Clemson | FR | 13 | 27 | 18 | 45 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | Clemson | SO | 15 | 53 | 35 | 88 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 1 | 27 | 27.0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | Clemson | JR | 15 | 67 | 37 | 104 | 16.5 | 8.0 | 3 | 42 | 14.0 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Career[14] | 44 | 148 | 90 | 238 | 28.5 | 11.0 | 4 | 69 | 17.3 | 1 | 20 | 6 | 1 | ||
Professional career
edit| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft 3+5⁄8 in (1.92 m) | 239 lb (108 kg) | 33+3⁄8 in (0.85 m) | 9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.39 s | 1.55 s | 2.58 s | 39.0 in (0.99 m) | 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) | 20 reps | |||
| All values from NFL Combine, except bench from Pro Day[15][16] | ||||||||||||
Arizona Cardinals
editSimmons participated in the 2020 NFL Combine, leading all linebackers with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash.[17] He was one of 58 players invited to the 2020 NFL Draft, which was held virtually due to social distancing regulations arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, where he was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the eighth overall pick.[18][19]
Despite playing only five snaps in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football, Simmons recorded his first career interception off Russell Wilson with a minute left in overtime, helping the Cardinals win 37–34.[20]
Simmons entered the 2021 season as a starting inside linebacker. He started all 17 games, finishing third on the team with 105 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and seven passes defensed.
In Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints, Simmons recorded five tackles and returned an interception 56 yards for his first NFL touchdown in the second quarter in the 42–34 win.[21]
On May 1, 2023, the Cardinals declined the fifth-year option of Simmons' contract, making him a free agent in the 2024 offseason.[22]
New York Giants
editSimmons was traded to the New York Giants on August 24, 2023, in exchange for a seventh-round pick (No.226) in the 2024 NFL draft.[23][24]
During a Week 11 game against the Washington Commanders, Simmons intercepted a pass off of Sam Howell and returned it for a touchdown, sealing the game and resulting in a victory for the Giants.[25]
On April 5, 2024 the Giants re-signed Simmons to a 1 year, $2,000,000 deal.[26]
NFL career statistics
edit| Year | Team | GP | GS | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | TD | PD | FF | FR | ||||
| 2020 | ARZ | 16 | 7 | 43 | 11 | 54 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | ARZ | 17 | 17 | 70 | 35 | 105 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | ARZ | 17 | 13 | 68 | 31 | 99 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 2 | 61 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
| 2023 | NYG | 17 | 4 | 33 | 17 | 50 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 54 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Career[27] | 67 | 41 | 214 | 94 | 308 | 15.0 | 8.5 | 5 | 127 | 2 | 19 | 8 | 3 | |
References
edit- ^ Keepfer, Scott. "'He can do anything': Clemson's Isaiah Simmons is one of NFL Draft's most coveted players". Greenville News. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ "Isaiah Simmons – Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site". ClemsonTigers.com. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ Gier, Kathleen (February 2, 2016). "Olathe North football player Isaiah Simmons commits to Clemson". The Kansas City Star. McClatchy. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (August 28, 2018). "Clemson Football: Players, coaches agree, 'watch out' for Isaiah Simmons this season". The Anderson Independent-Mail. Gannett. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Raynor, Grace (August 24, 2018). "For Clemson's Isaiah Simmons, switching from safety to linebacker was right move". The Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Raynor, Grace (January 4, 2019). "The unlikely success story of Clemson's Isaiah Simmons, the Tigers' leading tackler". The Post and Courier. Evening Post Industries. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Raynor, Grace (July 9, 2019). "From footraces to pass breakups: How speedy Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons is exceeding expectations". The Athletic. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Connolly, Matt (January 14, 2019). "Clemson's leading tackler passing on NFL draft, returning to school". The State. McClatchy. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ^ Lentz, Zach (December 9, 2019). "Simmons Wins 2019 Butkus Award". Clemson Maven. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ Boynton, Eric. "Clemson All-American Isaiah Simmons makes departure official". GoUpState.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ "Clemson LB Isaiah Simmons declares for 2020 NFL draft". ESPN.com. January 19, 2020. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
- ^ Domowitch, Paul. "Clemson's Isaiah Simmons can play anywhere on the field, and that's more of an asset in today's NFL". Inquirer.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Kelly, Danny. "Isaiah Simmons Is the Do-Everything NFL Defender of the Future". The Ringer. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ "Isaiah Simmons". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- ^ "Isaiah Simmons Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
- ^ "Isaiah Simmons, Clemson, OLB, 2020 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved February 22, 2022.
- ^ Reuter, Chad. "2020 NFL Scouting Combine winners/losers: Isaiah Simmons!". NFL.com. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Around The NFL staff. "58 prospects to virtually participate in NFL draft". NFL.com. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
- ^ Gordon, Grant (April 23, 2020). "Cardinals select LB Isaiah Simmons with No. 8 pick". NFL.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ Zimmerman, Kevin (October 26, 2020). "Cardinals LB Isaiah Simmons breaks seal, seals Sunday win vs. Seahawks". Arizona Sports. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
- ^ "Isaiah Simmons, Marco Wilson Have Pick Party Against Saints". www.azcardinals.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
- ^ Urban, Darren (May 1, 2023). "Cardinals Won't Pick Up Isaiah Simmons Fifth-Year Option". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ "Giants acquire S Isaiah Simmons in trade with Cardinals". giants.com. August 24, 2023.
- ^ "Cardinals Trade Isaiah Simmons To New York Giants For Draft Pick". azcardinals.com. August 24, 2023.
- ^ Farrar, Doug. "Commanders QB Sam Howell throws third pick-six in as many games". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ "Giants Re-sign LB Isaiah Simmons".
- ^ "Isaiah Simmons, Pro". pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 1, 2021.