Jeffery Simmons makes instant impact as Bears’ blockbuster trade pays off in Seattle

Chicago Bears All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons needed one game to justify the two first-round picks Chicago sent Tennessee, anchoring a 34-17 road win over the defending NFL Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football. The Mississippi State product shared the team lead with six tackles, sacked Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in the first quarter and broke up a pass after only two practices in Chicago. Bears coach Ben Johnson gave him a game ball and said, “his impact was profound.” MORE: NFC power rankings Week 9: 49ers reclaim No. 1 after Vikings’ first loss How did Simmons slow down Seattle? Seattle averaged 3.0 yards per play over the 48 snaps Simmons was on the field and 13.3 yards per play on the eight snaps he sat out. Darnold completed fewer than half his passes with the former Titans star lined up across from him, and the Seahawks converted only one of 11 third downs. Simmons beat right guard Grey Zabel for his sack, and he played more than 85% of the defensive snaps after learning a new defense in four days. “If you’re going to try to block me one-on-one, I need to go win the one-on-one ,” Simmons said. “When I get those opportunities, it’s not very often I’m getting a one-on-one. They gave me the one-on-one against their right guard, and I was like, ‘I need to go win this.’” MORE: Ben Johnson continues streak of electric postgame speeches as Bears surge Montez Sweat feeds off Simmons Offenses rarely block Simmons with one player, and that opened lanes for the rest of Chicago’s front. The 29-year-old drew 13 double teams, the most among Bears defensive linemen, while defensive end Montez Sweat posted a sack and two quarterback hits in his first game back from a two-game suspension. The two played together at Mississippi State, and Simmons pushed his old teammate as soon as he arrived. “I told him, ‘ Get back to the old Sweat ,’” Simmons said. Because the front four won so often, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen didn’t need his usual pressure packages. “Jeff was just saying it to me all game, ‘We need to get home with four,’” Sweat said. “So those guys in the back cover, and I think DA felt that. I don’t think we blitzed as much as we usually do.” MORE: 2026 NFL trade deadline tracker: Grading every deal, top available candidates What does Simmons mean for the Bears? Chicago sent its 2027 and 2028 first-round picks plus a 2027 fourth-rounder to Tennessee for Simmons and a 2028 fifth, a deal that made NFL history as the first time a defensive tackle was traded for multiple first-rounders in the common draft era. His three-year, $105.8 million extension keeps him under contract through 2030. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, whom Simmons mocked over his painted nails before the 2024 season, is glad the trash talk now works in his favor. “I’m happy, he’s Jefe,” Williams said. “I’m happy he’s on our side. He helps everybody on the field on the defense.” The Bears (6-2) have won three straight, and Simmons makes his Soldier Field debut when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit Chicago for Sunday Night Football on Nov. 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET. —  Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter  —