Josh Simmons earns NFL.com recognition with spot on “All-Under 25” team

Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons has been named to ’s annual “All-Under 25 Team,” an honor that spotlights young players making impact at a high level before their 25th birthday. The recognition arrives as part of ’s yearly league-wide evaluation of emerging talent, and it also reinforces what the Chiefs have been trying to build on the front line, especially at the tackle positions where the margin for error is small.

In the Chiefs’ announcement, Simmons’ case was tied to his play from last season, when he impressed across eight games. That timeframe matters because the “All-Under 25” concept is built around production and performance rather than reputation alone, and a player’s ability to translate physical tools and technique into results is what separates the group from the broader pool of young prospects.

For an offensive lineman, the work is often measured indirectly. Protecting the quarterback, sustaining run lanes, and handling the pass-rush on an island are responsibilities that show up in both game flow and snap-to-snap efficiency. At left tackle, Simmons’ role carries added weight because he is tasked with managing some of the league’s most difficult matchups, particularly the speed and precision edge rushers bring.

The Chiefs have long emphasized that the offensive line must be functional at every level of the lineup, not just in ideal conditions. Simmons’ inclusion on a national list focused on young players suggests his performances stood out in a way that evaluators across the league were able to notice, even amid the usual rotation and matchup variables that come with an NFL season.

The timing of the feature is also notable, because summer and early training camp are when teams are still sharpening the internal competition and refining roles. Awards like “All-Under 25” do not change a depth chart by themselves, but they can influence how quickly coaches and personnel staff are willing to trust a player in higher-leverage situations, especially for positions that require consistent communication and assignment discipline.

Simmons will now carry the attention that comes with being labeled one of the league’s top young players. That can be a boost in expectations, but it also becomes a reference point for how the next season is evaluated. The Chiefs, like every team, will need him to keep stacking performances, not just flashes, and to keep his production steady against increasingly complex looks as opponents game-plan for him.

For fans, the most direct way to track what this honor means on the field is to watch Simmons’ ability to translate that recognition into continued reliability at tackle. The question moving forward is less about whether he can be impressive in a few matchups and more about whether he can sustain the kind of performance that made him stand out in eight games last season, while still improving his consistency as the Chiefs refine their offense for the year.