Clyde Simmons facts for kids
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Defensive line coach |
| Team | Tennessee State Tigers |
| Conference | Big South–OVC Football |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | August 4, 1964 Lane, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Wilmington (NC) New Hanover Western Carolina University |
| Playing career | |
| 1983–1985 | Western Carolina |
| 1986–1993 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1994–1995 | Arizona Cardinals |
| 1996–1997 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 1998 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 1999–2000 | Chicago Bears |
| Position(s) | Defensive end |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2010 | New York Jets (Coaching intern) |
| 2012–2016 | St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams (ADL) |
| 2017–2018 | Cleveland Browns (DL) |
| 2019 | Missouri Baptist (DL) |
| 2020 | Western Carolina (DL) |
| 2021–present | Tennessee State (DL) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
|
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Clyde Simmons Jr. (born August 4, 1964) is an American football coach. He used to play as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was a two-time All-Pro player and went to the Pro Bowl twice with the Philadelphia Eagles. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame. Today, he coaches the defensive line for the Tennessee State Tigers.
Contents
Clyde Simmons' Football Journey
College Days at Western Carolina
Clyde Simmons played college football at Western Carolina University. He helped his team, the Catamounts, reach the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship game. In 1992, he was honored by being added to the Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame.
Playing in the NFL
Simmons was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1986 NFL draft. He played for the Eagles for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. After his time in Philadelphia, he played for several other NFL teams. These included the Arizona Cardinals (1994–1995), the Jacksonville Jaguars (1996–1997), the Cincinnati Bengals (1998), and the Chicago Bears (1999–2000).
In 1992, Clyde Simmons led the entire NFL with 19 sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He also made it to the Pro Bowl, which is an all-star game, in both 1991 and 1992. He finished his playing career as one of the top players in NFL history for total sacks. He even returned an interception for a touchdown during a playoff game in 1996.
Coaching Career
After his successful playing career, Clyde Simmons decided to become a football coach.
Early Coaching Roles
He started coaching in 2008 at Greater Atlanta Christian School. There, he coached the defensive line. In 2010, he got a special opportunity to work with the New York Jets as a fellowship coach.
Coaching in the NFL and College
From 2012 to 2016, Simmons worked as an assistant defensive line coach for the St. Louis and later Los Angeles Rams. During his time with the Rams, the team had many sacks. He coached star players like Aaron Donald, who won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2014. He also coached Robert Quinn, who set a team record with 19 sacks in 2013.
In January 2017, Simmons moved to the Cleveland Browns to coach their defensive line. After that, in 2019, he became a defensive line coach at Missouri Baptist University. In 2020, he returned to his college team, Western Carolina, to coach their defensive line.
Since May 2021, Clyde Simmons has been the defensive line coach for the Tennessee State Tigers. He was hired by the team's head coach, Eddie George, who is a famous former NFL player himself.
