In the aftermath of trading three-time All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Oct. 29, Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh didn't sugarcoat the short-term upshot for his team.
"It sucks. Everything about it sucks," Saleh said in a news conference. "Unfortunately, (it was) necessary."
Twelve days ahead of the NFL's annual trade deadline, the Titans took many by surprise by agreeing to a blockbuster trade that netted them two first-round picks. In exchange, the team had to part with the backbone of its defense and one of the roster's few reliable performers.
General manager Mike Borgonzi said the team was not actively shopping Simmons and had not considered any offers until Wednesday night, when Bears general manager Ryan
Poles reached out. After speaking with Saleh and Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, Borgonzi agreed to the deal sending away the four-time Pro Bowl selection, whom he said was surprised by the decision and had not wanted to leave the franchise.
"You have to be real with where you're at when you look at the team," Borgonzi said of the 1-6 Titans. "How are you gonna be better next year, the year after, the year after? You're always looking at a three-year window with the roster.
"We felt like this was the best decision moving forward for us, as hard as it is, to really accelerate that process."
Borgonzi dismissed any notion of a fire sale ahead of the deadline, saying he had "not picked up the phone once" to seek out offers on any players. Both he and Saleh cited safety Amani Hooker and running back Tony Pollard – considered by some as potential trade candidates – among the key figures to lead in the deal's wake.
Since Borogonzi was hired in 2025, the Titans are just 4-20. Quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft, has continued to struggle in his second season, with Tennessee's offense ranking last in yards per game and 31st in scoring.
"We have a lot of work to do," Borgonzi said. "And we have to make the right decisions."
With a robust set of draft picks, however, the franchise now hopes it can chart a path back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
"Whenever you can take swings at these young guys and get an influx of talent it's the fastest way to rebuild your team," Saleh said. "You can look all over the league ... there's a lot of examples.
"Like I said, this is unfortunate because we love Jeff. ... But unfortunately that's just part of the business."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Titans coach Robert Saleh: Trading Jeffery Simmons 'sucks' but is 'necessary'
