Bears players, coaches celebrate Jeffery Simmons trade as Halas Hall feels the jolt

The Chicago Bears moved to add elite interior disruption by trading for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, and the reaction inside Halas Hall was immediate, according to team reporting. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said the news created a surge of excitement across the building.

Allen described Simmons as a rare kind of disruptive defensive tackle, saying he has never worked with an interior player he’d consider as dominant as Simmons. He added that the task Simmons creates up front extends beyond athletic skill, emphasizing how difficult it can be to account for him every play.

Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower tied the excitement to more than football production, saying he’s looking forward to Simmons’ talent and character after hearing about him from people Hightower has worked with in Tennessee.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor said he first noticed the energy outside his office shortly after the trade, then got a FaceTime call from his brother, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. Press reported that Zac’s smile and excitement turned into immediate context because it meant Chicago would face Simmons in the same week.

The Bears’ acquisition also reflects a broader football-style fit. Taylor, who spent multiple seasons in Simmons’ AFC South division as a Colts assistant and later as the Jaguars offensive coordinator, said Simmons was a consistent nightmare to prepare for, characterized by high motor and terrifying playmaking.

With Simmons joining the Bears, the team’s internal perspective includes established familiarity. Bears defensive tackle James Lynch, who previously played next to Simmons in Tennessee for two seasons, said he expects to learn from Simmons’ routine and preparation approach as he integrates into the room. Meanwhile, right guard Jonah Jackson said Simmons can affect both the run and pass rush, and noted that teams now have to game plan for him every week.