Titans Lock Up Jeffery Simmons With Record Contract Extension

The Tennessee Titans moved fast and decisively. On Friday they agreed to a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension with star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons that includes $100 million guaranteed and runs through the 2030 season.

That average annual value of $35.27 million instantly made Simmons the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, topping Kansas City’s Chris Jones at $31.75 million.

The Titans didn’t wait for free agency or risk losing their cornerstone. They got the deal done now.

What the Numbers Actually Mean

This isn’t just big money. It’s a statement.

Simmons, 28, has started 97 of 99 career games since the Titans drafted him in the first round out of Mississippi State in 2019. He has delivered production and leadership every single year. The new contract keeps him in Nashville long enough to mentor the next wave of defenders and anchor a defense that’s still building.

Here’s the clean breakdown:

Two years remained on his previous extension. Tennessee chose to reward him early rather than gamble.

2025 Was the Statement Season

Simmons turned in the best year of his career.

He posted career highs with 11 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 21 quarterback hits. He finished with 67 tackles and three forced fumbles while earning first-team All-Pro honors and another Pro Bowl selection — his fourth overall.

When Simmons collapses the pocket from the interior, quarterbacks feel it early. That kind of pressure from a 300-plus pound tackle changes how offenses game-plan. It forces extra help, opens lanes for edge rushers, and makes everything else the Titans do on defense easier.

Career by the Numbers

Those aren’t just stats. They’re the resume of a player who has been the constant in a franchise that has gone through plenty of change.

Simmons Speaks From the Heart

“Tennessee has become a second home for me,” Simmons said in the team’s release. “From day one, this organization believed in me, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue to pour into this franchise and community. I want to thank God, my family, my teammates, Ms. Amy and the entire Titans organization for believing in me. My job isn’t finished. I believe in this locker room and this staff, and I’m focused on helping this team get back to competing for championships.”

You can feel the loyalty in every word. This wasn’t a player chasing the highest bidder. This was a guy who found his place and chose to stay.

GM Mike Borgonzi Makes It Clear

“Jeffery Simmons is a pillar for our franchise and embodies what it means to be a Titan,” general manager Mike Borgonzi said. “He’s the premier defensive tackle in the National Football League and you win with players like Jeffery.

“Not only is his leadership on the field what we want our program to represent, but off the field, he sets the standard for our community. … You always want to keep your best players and we accomplished that today. We’re excited for Jeffery to be here in Nashville for the long haul.”

That last line lands. The Titans made sure their best player stays in Nashville for the long haul.

The Bigger Picture

Simmons has already played in five career playoff games, all during the Mike Vrabel era. He had three sacks in the 2022 AFC Divisional round loss to the Bengals. Experience like that matters when the roster is young and the division is still up for grabs.

By securing him now, Tennessee sends a message to everyone in the building: we take care of the guys who take care of us. The locker room sees it. Free agents see it. Fans see it.

The AFC South remains wide open. Having one of the league’s most dominant interior defenders locked in through his prime changes the math for everyone else in the division.

This deal wasn’t just about money. It was about identity.