Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons is now the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL. Simmons signed a three-year, $105.9 million extension with the Titans. The team made the official announcement on Friday.
Simmons has quietly become one of the league’s premier game-wreckers along the interior of the defensive line, recording double-digit sacks in 2025.
“From day one, this organization believed in me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to pour into this franchise and community. I want to thank God, my family, my teammates, [controlling owner] Amy [Adams Strunk], and the entire Titans organization for believing in me. My job isn’t finished. I believe in this locker room and this staff, and I’m focused on helping this team get back to competing for championships.”
According to Spotrac, the deal is for three years and $105.9 million. It is second only to Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones in terms of total value. But his $35.3 million average salary is tops in the league among tackles, and second only to Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett among defensive linemen more broadly.
“Jeffery Simmons is a pillar for our franchise and embodies what it means to be a Titan. He’s the premier defensive tackle in the National Football League and you win with players like Jeffery,” Titans General Manager Mike Borgonzi said in the team’s press release.
“Not only is his leadership on the field what we want our program to represent, but off the field, he sets the standard for our community. I'd like to thank Todd France and AJ Stevens with Athletes First for their communication and efforts to get this deal done.”
“I'd also like to thank Vin Marino, Leland Taylor and Dave Gardi for spearheading negotiations that resulted in a win for everyone. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of Amy and the Adams family. You always want to keep your best players and we accomplished that today. We’re excited for Jeffery to be here in Nashville for the long haul,” Borgonzi added.
The Titans drafted Simmons out of Mississippi State with the 19th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
His rookie debut was delayed due to a torn ACL he suffered during the pre-draft process. He played in just nine games with seven starts; still, he had 32 total tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, and a pass defense.
In 2020, he missed two games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but he finished the season with 49 total tackles, three TFLs, three sacks, a forced fumble, three recoveries, and 5five passes defended.
He played a full season in 2021, totaling 54 tackles, 12 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, and six passes defended.
He earned his first career Pro Bowl selection and a Second Team All-Pro nod. Despite playing 15 games in 2022, he again totaled 54 tackles, along with nine TFLs, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and seven passes defended. He earned another Pro Bowl and a Second Team All-Pro selection.
His 2023 season was again cut short by injury, but he still put up 44 total tackles, 10 TFLs, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a recovery, and a pass defense. He also caught a two-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Will Levis.
He had a third Pro Bowl season in 2024, racking up a career-high 76 tackles, 11 TFLs, five sacks, two forced fumbles, two recoveries, and four passes defended.
In 2025, he racked up 67 tackles and a career-high in TFLs with 17. His career-high 11 sacks also broke the Titans franchise record for the most sacks by a defensive tackle since 1999, when the team—formerly the Houston Oilers—became the Tennessee Titans.
He racked up three forced fumbles and batted three passes, becoming just the second player in the past 10 seasons and the first player since Aaron Donald in 2021 to put up at least 10 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and three passes defended.
He also posted a safety and caught a second touchdown pass. He earned another Pro Bowl selection and his first career First-Team All-Pro selection.
Simmons is one of five players in franchise history to put up at least five sacks in five consecutive seasons since individual sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
