The NFL landscape was turned on its side this week when the Chicago Bears landed All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans. Simmons was acquired by the Bears, along with a 2028 fifth-round pick, in exchange for first-round picks in 2027 and 2028, and a fourth-round pick in 2027. The move signaled to the league that the Bears are ready to make a Super Bowl run, while the Titans are moving towards another rebuild.
It was also a shock to many around the league because the Titans held firm that Simmons wasn't available. And it turns out, more than one other team tried to acquire him. Jonathan Jones of The Athletic reports the New York Giants made a call, while Tom Pelissero of The Ringer indicated the Jacksonville Jaguars
had interest.
According to Jones, the Giants reached out to the Titans multiple times. First, Giants general manager Joe Schoen contacted Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi, but was shot down. Then, head coach John Harbaugh went to Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk directly to inquire about Simmons' availability, and was also told no.
Meanwhile, Pelissero reports via Underdog that the Jaguars were one of multiple teams who had called the Titans regarding Simmons. Not surprisingly, the Titans' division rival was also told no.
It wasn't until Bears general manager Ryan Poles contacted Borgonzi late Wednesday night that a trade began to materialize. The two have been friends for years. They first met at Boston College and came up together in the league with the Kansas City Chiefs front office. It was that strong connection that helped the two sides come to an agreement, with the Bears putting together an offer that the Titans simply could not refuse.
Multiple teams tried and failed to land Simmons. The Bears were the only ones to succeed.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Multiple teams tried to trade for Jeffery Simmons before the Bears
