New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh took the unconventional step of contacting Tennessee Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk directly in an unsuccessful effort to acquire All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, The Athletic reported Saturday.
The outreach came after Giants general manager Joe Schoen had already inquired about Simmons with Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi, only to be told Tennessee was not interested in moving the defensive standout, according to The Athletic. Refusing to take the initial rejection as final, Harbaugh went above the front-office counterpart to pitch Strunk, who reiterated that the franchise planned to keep Simmons.
The direct plea between a head coach and an opposing team’s owner surprised league executives. The Athletic reported that one general manager described Harbaugh’s phone call as a breach of an unwritten professional code holding that primary football decision-makers should negotiate exclusively with one another. Unlike many NFL head coaches, the 64-year-old Harbaugh reports directly to New York ownership rather than through Schoen.
How Chicago Landed Simmons Instead
Simmons was eventually dealt just days later, though not to East Rutherford. With Tennessee sitting at 1-6, franchise leadership convened on Tuesday and opted to entertain trade discussions for the 29-year-old lineman. The Chicago Bears finalized a blockbuster agreement on Oct. 29, agreeing to send 2027 and 2028 first-round selections along with a 2027 fourth-round pick to Tennessee for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round choice.
Simmons became the first defensive tackle in the common draft era, which began in 1967, to command multiple first-round picks in a trade, according to ESPN. Bears general manager Ryan Poles noted that his long-standing working relationship with Borgonzi—dating back to their shared time at Boston College and later with the Kansas City Chiefs—helped accelerate the talks once Tennessee opened the door.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Saturday that the Giants had inquired on Simmons multiple times leading up to the resolution, consistently receiving negative responses until Chicago closed the swap.
Giants Eye Further Moves Ahead of Deadline
The aggressive push for Simmons underscores the Giants’ desire to replenish their interior defensive front. Before the 2026 campaign, New York traded Pro Bowl tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for a 2026 first-round pick, which the team subsequently used at No. 10 overall on offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa.
Despite parting with Lawrence, the Giants entered their Week 8 bye in first place in the NFC East with a 4-2-1 record. With the league’s Nov. 10 trade deadline fast approaching, New York remains an active buyer in the market, according to the New York Post, which reported the club has also registered interest in Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
The Giants resume their regular-season schedule in Week 9 when they travel to face the Philadelphia Eagles, while Simmons is projected to make his Bears debut against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.
