Bears land All-Pro DT Jeffery Simmons from Titans for two first-round picks

The Chicago Bears have acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans, sending two future first-round draft picks to a franchise in freefall — the steepest price paid for a defensive tackle since 1967, according to ESPN — in a deal that announces, loudly, that Chicago believes this is its moment.

The terms, confirmed by the Titans on Thursday: Chicago sends its 2027 and 2028 first-round picks plus a 2027 fourth-round pick to Tennessee; the Bears receive Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick. The deal is pending a physical, according to the Titans' official announcement.

Simmons, 29, is under contract through the 2030 season after signing a three-year, $105.8 million extension — including $100 million guaranteed — in June, according to NFL.com. He has four sacks in seven games this season and leads all defensive tackles with 28 pressures, including a league-best 10 pressures and three sacks when double-teamed, per Next Gen Stats. Last season he set career highs with 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, earning his first All-Pro selection. He is a four-time Pro Bowler and was a five-time team captain in Tennessee.

For the Bears, the calculus is straightforward: quarterback Caleb Williams and several key contributors are still on rookie contracts, the team is 5-2 and chasing the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North, and the franchise has not won a Super Bowl since 1985. General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson — in his first season after the Bears went 11-6 and won the NFC North in 2024-25 — have decided the window is open enough to mortgage two drafts' worth of premium capital.

That's certainly Ryan's domain, and yet we have constant dialogue of what this team needs and where we can impact ourselves not just this year but years in the future as well. He's turning over every stone that he possibly can to improve this football team just like he has ever since I've gotten in this building and I feel really good about our process.— Ben Johnson, Bears Head Coach

Simmons fills a specific gap. Chicago's defensive line has ranked near the bottom of the NFL in pressure rate — 28.8%, tied for 20th — since Dennis Allen took over as defensive coordinator in 2025, according to Fox News. The Bears have generated sacks largely through blitzing linebackers and defensive backs rather than interior linemen. Simmons, listed at 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, is also tied for second among all defensive tackles with 21 run stops this season, per NFL.com. He joins a front that already includes veteran Grady Jarrett and edge rusher Montez Sweat, who is set to return Monday night against Seattle after a two-game suspension.

The Bears face the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks on Monday night, their next test in a season that already includes a wild-card playoff win over the Green Bay Packers and a divisional-round overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the previous postseason.

For Tennessee, the trade is an acknowledgment of reality. The Titans entered 2025 hoping to contend in the AFC South under new head coach Robert Saleh and with second-year quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. Instead they are 1-6, last in the AFC, and now without the one player who had given their defense any identity. The haul of two first-rounders and a fourth gives a rebuilding front office meaningful assets to work with — though the picks' value will depend heavily on how far the Bears go.

There are few people like Jeff Simmons. We are forever grateful for all he has given this team and this city. His formidable presence on the field was surpassed only by what he did off it. He gave Nashville more than football. The Give 'Em A Reason Foundation has changed lives in Middle Tennessee and in Mississippi, and I have no doubt it will continue to wherever he goes. Jeff — thank you. For how you played, how you led, and how you represented our team.— Amy Adams Strunk, Titans Controlling Owner

The irony of the timing is sharp. Just the day before the trade was announced, Simmons told reporters in the Titans' locker room that he had heard nothing from his agent or the organization and expected to remain in Tennessee.

Simmons said on Wednesday that his goal each day was to be where his feet are, never looking ahead and staying in the moment, adding that he does not worry about things he cannot control because those are a distraction from fans and outside media, and that he had heard nothing from his agent or the organization about a possible trade.

The Simmons deal is the largest move in a busy week of pre-deadline trades. Earlier, the Philadelphia Eagles dealt center Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens, and the Indianapolis Colts — in what NFL.com described as a fire sale — sent DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers and Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks, according to CBS Sports. The NFL trade deadline is November 10.

The trade was first reported by The Ringer's Tom Pelissero, according to NFL.com. A person familiar with the deal also confirmed it to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not yet been officially announced at that point, according to The Guardian.

Why it matters — The trade is the most expensive defensive tackle deal in more than five decades and marks the clearest signal yet that the Bears — dormant as a title contender since 1985 — are willing to bet their next two drafts on winning now with Caleb Williams.

Sources differ on Simmons's All-Pro designations: One All-Pro selection (first-team, 2025) (theguardian.com, nfl.com, cbssports.com, tennesseetitans.com) vs Three-time All-Pro (Multi-source web summary)

Reported by theguardian.com, sports.yahoo.com, foxnews.com, cbssports.com, nfl.com, bearswire.usatoday.com, nytimes.com, tennesseetitans.com