CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears reached an agreement Thursday to acquire All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans in a blockbuster deal that sends two future first-round draft picks to Nashville, the Associated Press reported.
Under the terms of the trade, Chicago will receive Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round draft pick. In exchange, Tennessee receives first-round picks in 2027 and 2028 alongside a fourth-round selection in 2027, according to reports from NBC Sports and the AP. A person familiar with the negotiations spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the transaction had not yet been formally announced by the clubs.
All-in move for Chicago
The blockbuster move gives Chicago an elite anchor in the middle of a defensive unit that entered the week ranked eighth in yards allowed and ninth in points allowed. Chicago holds a 5-2 record heading into a Monday night matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, chasing the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North.
The trade signals aggressive intent from Bears general manager Ryan Poles and second-year head coach Ben Johnson, who led the team to an 11-6 finish and a division crown in 2025. Chicago advanced to the divisional round of the postseason last winter before falling to the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. Adding Simmons offers protection and pressure up front to complement quarterback Caleb Williams as the franchise aims for its first championship since the 1985 campaign.
Addressing the upcoming Nov. 10 trade deadline on Wednesday, Johnson credited Poles with actively exploring opportunities across the league.
“That’s certainly Ryan’s domain, and yet we have constant dialogue of what this team needs and where we can impact ourselves not just this year but years in the future as well,” Johnson said. “He’s turning over every stone that he possibly can to improve this football team just like he has ever since I’ve gotten in this building and I feel really good about our process. We’ll see what happens.”
Dominant interior presence
Simmons, 29, has developed into one of the most disruptive interior defenders in pro football since entering the league as the No. 19 overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Mississippi State. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound tackle earned his first AP first-team All-Pro honor in 2025, when he racked up a career-best 11 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback hits across 15 games.
Through seven games this season, Simmons has posted four sacks, six tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits. Over his career, he has amassed 46.5 sacks, 72 tackles for loss and 96 quarterback hits while earning four Pro Bowl invitations. Before the season, the Titans signed Simmons to a three-year contract extension worth over $105 million.
On Wednesday, Simmons had downplayed speculation about his future when asked about trade rumors.
“Each and every day I wake up, my goal is to just be where my feet are at,” Simmons said. “Never looking ahead right now, it’s just be in the moment, and that’s from each and every day, from game day, my goal just never changes. I don’t worry about the things I can’t control. Them types of things are a distraction.”
Tennessee resets after slow start
For Tennessee, parting with their defensive centerpiece marks a distinct pivot toward rebuilding draft capital. The Titans sit at 1-6 ahead of a Sunday road contest against the Cincinnati Bengals. The franchise posted consecutive 3-14 campaigns over the previous two seasons and has not secured a winning record since finishing 12-5 in 2021.
Simmons will now transition to Chicago, where the Bears look to integrate him into the defensive rotation ahead of their crucial stretch run.
