Titans reportedly trading Jeffery Simmons before playing Bengals

The Tennessee Titans are trading All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears , a source confirmed with The Tennessean on Oct. 29. The source asked for anonymity because it has not been announced by the team. The Tennessee Titans have media availability starting at 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The Titans are dealing their most beloved, but also expensive player in an attempt to rebuild. The franchise has fallen to 7-34 during the past three seasons. Simmons received a contract extension worth up to $105.9 million in June. The Titans (1-6) have less to play for than the Bears (5-2), who will add a significant piece to their defensive in Simmons. Titans vs Bears trade details According to Ian Rapoport , the Titans will receive a 2027 first-round pick, 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 first-round pick for Simmons, who a day earlier said he hadn't heard of any trade deals involving him through his agent or the team. The Titans are also sending a 2028 fifth-round pick to the Bears. More: Tennessee Titans DT Jeffery Simmons shoots down trade rumors More: Inside what drives Jeffery Simmons and why he remains loyal to Titans | Exclusive Jeffery Simmons stats The 6-foot-4, 305-pound three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle finished his Tennessee career with 45.5 sacks in eight seasons. He led the Titans in 2025 with career-highs in sacks (11), quarterback pressures (60) and tackles for loss (17), and was named an Associated Press first-team, All-Pro defensive tackle and started in his fourth career Pro Bowl.  He has four sacks, six tackles for loss, 38 tackles and 28 quarterback pressures in seven games this season. Teams have tried to acquire Simmons before, but talks never got far. Simmons told The Tennessean before the 2026 season that he wanted to be with the team long term. He reiterated that on Oct. 28, saying he had no interest in leaving Tennessee as the NFL trade deadline approaches. He sounded like a player who still wanted to help get the organization out of its rut. “Each and every day (when) I wake up, my goal is to be where my feet are at. I’m never looking ahead. Right now it’s just being in the moment,” Simmons said. “I can be that type of guy who says, ‘I want out’ or I can be the type of guy who can stay here and (with) my leadership and everything help turn things around where I know it can get back to. That’s kind of been my mindset, what can I do to help influence this team and get things back on track? That’s all I focus on.”   This story will be updated. Tyler Palmateer covers the Tennessee Titans for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83 .