GREEN BAY – The Packers have added another versatile defender in sixth-year veteran Isaiah Simmons.
Simmons, 26, has 329 tackles (15 for loss) with nine forced fumbles, 8½ sacks and five interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) in 84 games (42 starts) over five NFL seasons.
Here are five things to know about the Packers' new linebacker:
- Simmons was the eighth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 6-foot-4, 238-pound linebacker confirmed his standing as a top 10 pick when Simmons ran a 4.39-second time at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 39-inch vertical, 11-foot broad jump and 1.51 time in the 10-yard split.
A hybrid defender throughout a productive career at Clemson, Simmons scored a 99 in both production and athleticism during the pre-draft process from NFL Next Gen Stats in 2020.
The Arizona Cardinals used their eighth overall pick on Simmons that year and the returns were instantaneous, with Simmons earning a place on the PFWA All-Rookie team after registering 54 tackles, two sacks, an INT and forced fumble in 16 games (seven starts).
He became a full-fledged starter for the Cards in 2021, racking up a career-high 105 tackles (70 solo) in 17 games.
- He was traded to the New York Giants before the 2023 season.
Simmons had a productive year during Kliff Kingsbury's final year as head coach in 2022, notching 99 tackles, a career-high four sacks and returning his first interception for a touchdown against New Orleans in Week 7.
However, the Cardinals struggled to find a place for him after Jonathan Gannon was hired as head coach in 2023 and traded Simmons to the New York Giants near the end of training camp for a seventh-round pick.
He finished his rookie deal with the Giants before re-signing for one year last April.
- Simmons was a solid contributor to the Giants' special teams.
While starting only five games on defense over two seasons in New York, Simmons acclimated well to the Giants' special teams units.
He produced seven coverage tackles on 370 special teams snaps and blocked a would-be, game-tying field goal from Jason Myers that Bryce Ford-Wheaton returned for a TD in an eventual 29-20 Giants win over Seattle last October.
Defensively, Simmons was listed as a safety/inside linebacker during his two years in New York. Despite only playing 558 defensive snaps, Simmons still racked up 71 tackles (45 solo) while returning a second INT for a 54-yard touchdown in 2023.
In 2024, he extended his streak to five years of forcing at least one fumble when he punched the ball out of Baker Mayfield's grasp in the second quarter of a Week 12 meeting with Tampa Bay.
- He has yet to miss a game in his NFL career
Simmons has played in 85 consecutive games (including postseason) in his pro career, a streak that extends to 129 straight games going back to his three seasons at Clemson.
After redshirting in 2016, Simmons played in 44 straight collegiate games and was part of the Tigers' undefeated national championship squad in 2018-19.
- Simmons is more than just a linebacker.
His athleticism is his calling card and what led to Simmons playing everywhere from linebacker to slot cornerback and safety during his time at Clemson.
Primarily a linebacker, however, Simmons started 29 of 30 games in which he appeared during his final two seasons with the Tigers.
He finished his college career with 241 tackles (28½ for loss), 10 sacks, four interceptions (one returned for a TD), 22 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
He received the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker in 2019, becoming the first Clemson player to win the award. Simmons also became the program's sixth unanimous All-American.
A testament to his athleticism, Simmons participated in the long jump with Clemson's track and field team while redshirting his freshman football season in 2016. He was a two-time state champion in the long jump at Olathe (Kan.) High School.
