Brian Simmons
Encyclopedia
Brian Eugene Simmons is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a free agent
. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
17th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at North Carolina
.
Simmons has also played for the New Orleans Saints
in his career.
in New Bern, North Carolina
, and was a student and a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track.
in the University of North Carolina
where as a senior, he won first team All-America honors from Football News, Associated Press, and the Walter Camp Foundation.
where he played eight seasons with them. Simmons missed all but one game of the 2000
season because of injury.
In 2001, the Bengals started the season 1-0. They faced the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens
for their second game. Right before the halftime, the Ravens were driving downfield. They were on the goaline, and threw into the endzone. Brian Simmons' made one of his greatest plays in his career by picking off the pass, which lead to Cincinnati's 21-10 win.
In 2003, the 1-4 Bengals were down 0-7 against the Ravens again. With the Ravens about to score again, Simmons sacked rookie quarterback Kyle Boller
, which forced a fumble, and led to Jon Kitna's 45-yard touchdown pass on third down. The Bengals won 34-26. A week later, the Bengals were 2-4 and were protecting a 27-24 lead against the Seattle Seahawks
in the last six minutes. Simmons deflected a Matt Hasselbeck
pass at the Cincinnati 34, then deflected another at the 24, which was intercepted by cornerback Jeff Burris to win the game.
In 2004, for the home season opener, the Bengals were down against the Miami Dolphins
0-3 at halftime. Three minutes into the second half, Simmons intercepted an A.J. Feeley
pass and took it 50 yards for the Bengals only score of the game. It allowed Carson Palmer
to get rolling and drive downfield to set up Shayne Graham's
game-winning field goal.
On February 28, 2007, Simmons was released from the Bengals.
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was originally drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
17th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft
1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels football
The North Carolina Tar Heels football team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in collegiate level football. In Carolina’s first 121 seasons of football competition, the Tar Heels have compiled a record of 646–488–54, a winning percentage of .566...
.
Simmons has also played for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
in his career.
Early years
Simmons attended New Bern High SchoolNew Bern High School
New Bern High School is a high school in New Bern, North Carolina whose students come from the New Bern and James City area. It is located in Craven County. The student population is approximately 1900, and there are 165 faculty and staff members. The 2007–2008 school year was the start of...
in New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern, North Carolina
New Bern is a city in Craven County, North Carolina with a population of 29,524 as of the 2010 census.. It is located at the confluence of the Trent and the Neuse rivers...
, and was a student and a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track.
College career
Simmons played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
in the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
where as a senior, he won first team All-America honors from Football News, Associated Press, and the Walter Camp Foundation.
Cincinnati Bengals
He was drafted by the Bengals in the 1998 NFL Draft1998 NFL Draft
The 1998 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 18-19, 1998...
where he played eight seasons with them. Simmons missed all but one game of the 2000
2000 in sports
2000 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Renate Götschl, Austria-American football:...
season because of injury.
In 2001, the Bengals started the season 1-0. They faced the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
for their second game. Right before the halftime, the Ravens were driving downfield. They were on the goaline, and threw into the endzone. Brian Simmons' made one of his greatest plays in his career by picking off the pass, which lead to Cincinnati's 21-10 win.
In 2003, the 1-4 Bengals were down 0-7 against the Ravens again. With the Ravens about to score again, Simmons sacked rookie quarterback Kyle Boller
Kyle Boller
Kyle Bryan Boller is an American football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of National Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at The University of California.Boller has also played for the St...
, which forced a fumble, and led to Jon Kitna's 45-yard touchdown pass on third down. The Bengals won 34-26. A week later, the Bengals were 2-4 and were protecting a 27-24 lead against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in the last six minutes. Simmons deflected a Matt Hasselbeck
Matt Hasselbeck
Matthew Michael Hasselbeck is a National Football League quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft, and traded to Seattle in 2001. After becoming the starter in 2003, Hasselbeck led Seattle to six playoff appearances and...
pass at the Cincinnati 34, then deflected another at the 24, which was intercepted by cornerback Jeff Burris to win the game.
In 2004, for the home season opener, the Bengals were down against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
0-3 at halftime. Three minutes into the second half, Simmons intercepted an A.J. Feeley
A.J. Feeley
Adam Joshua Feeley is an American football quarterback for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
pass and took it 50 yards for the Bengals only score of the game. It allowed Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer is an American professional football quarterback for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at the University of Southern California and won the Heisman Trophy in 2002...
to get rolling and drive downfield to set up Shayne Graham's
Shayne Graham
Michael Shayne Graham is an American football placekicker. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2000, and most recently played with the New England Patriots...
game-winning field goal.
On February 28, 2007, Simmons was released from the Bengals.
New Orleans Saints
On March 6, 2007 he signed with the Saints. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2789305. On March 1, 2008 the Saints released Simmons after the acquisition of Jonathan Vilma.Post career
On June 1, 2009, Simmons was named the Northeast regional scout for the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.