Brian Simmons

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Free agent
currentnumber=--
birthdate=birth date and age|1975|6|21
birthplace=New Bern, North Carolina
heightft=6
heightin=3
weight=244
debutyear=1998
debutteam=Cincinnati Bengals
college=North Carolina
draftyear=1998
draftround=1
draftpick=17
pastteams=
* Cincinnati Bengals (1998-2006)
* New Orleans Saints (2007)
status=
nfl=SIM110772

Brian Eugene Simmons (born June 21, 1975) 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.

Early years

Simmons attended New Bern High School in New Bern, North Carolina, and was a student and a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track.

College career

Simmons played college football 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.

Professional career

Cincinnati Bengals

He was drafted by the Bengals in the 1998 NFL Draft 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.

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.