The King of the Double Team
For most defensive tackles, a double team is a win for the offense. For Simmons, it was just a suggestion. While the Titans struggled to find wins, the Mississippi State product was a one-man wrecking crew. He finished the year with 11 sacks, but his ability to shed two blockers and still collapse the pocket sets him apart. He didn’t just hold his ground; he moved the pile.
The leaderboard for pressures after facing double teams in 2025 highlights just how elite Simmons has become:
- Jeffery Simmons (Titans): 18
- Christian Barmore (Patriots): 17
- Vita Vea (Buccaneers): 16
- Quinnen Williams (Cowboys): 15
- Calais Campbell (Free Agent): 14
Simmons’ 11 sacks were a career-high, but the 18 pressures against double teams tell the real story. He saw more bodies than anyone else in the league and still found a way to the quarterback. Offensive coordinators spent all week drawing up ways to stop him, only to watch him blow up the play in under three seconds.
“They can send two, they can send three, they can send the whole bus. It doesn’t matter. I get paid to get to the ball, and that’s what I’m going to do every single snap until the clock hits zero.”
— Jeffery Simmons, Titans Defensive Tackle
New Era in Nashville
With the 2026 offseason in full swing, the Titans are rebuilding around their defensive anchor. New head coach Robert Saleh inherited a roster with holes, but the interior defensive line isn’t one of them. Simmons provides a foundation that most teams dream of—a player who requires two blockers on every play, effectively creating a 10-on-9 advantage for the rest of the defense.
The Titans hold a top-five pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Expect them to target an edge rusher who can take advantage of the space Simmons creates. If the front office can find a legitimate threat on the outside, Simmons’ numbers might look even more terrifying next January. For now, he remains the gold standard for interior disruption.
