View source for Clyde Simmons

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
<!-- Please DO NOT delete this Infobox. When he retires (or if he gets a job in the NFL), just hide this Infobox and unhide the one that is below. THX =) -->
{{Infobox college coach
| name               = Clyde Simmons
| image              = 
| alt                = 
| caption            = 
| current_title      = [[Defensive line]] coach
| current_team       = Bowling Green Falcons
| current_conference = [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]]
| current_record     = 
| contract           = 
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1964|8|4}}
| birth_place        = [[Lane, South Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| alma_mater         = [[New Hanover High School|Wilmington (NC) New Hanover]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=New Hanover cagers follow grid example|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/654181302/?match=1&terms=%22clyde%20simmons%22|access-date=2024-12-13|website=The News and Observer|language=en-US}}</ref><br>[[Western Carolina University]] (1996)
| player_years1      = 1983–1985
| player_team1       = [[Western Carolina Catamounts football|Western Carolina]]
| player_years2      = 1986–1993
| player_team2       = [[Philadelphia Eagles]]
| player_years3      = 1994–1995
| player_team3       = [[Arizona Cardinals]]
| player_years4      = 1996–1997
| player_team4       = [[Jacksonville Jaguars]]
| player_years5      = 1998
| player_team5       = [[Cincinnati Bengals]]
| player_years6      = 1999–2000
| player_team6       = [[Chicago Bears]]
| player_positions   = [[Defensive end]]
| coach_years1       = 2010
| coach_team1        = [[New York Jets]] (Coaching intern)
| coach_years2       = 2012–2016
| coach_team2        = [[St. Louis Rams|St. Louis]] / [[Los Angeles Rams]] (ADL)
| coach_years3       = 2017–2018
| coach_team3        = [[Cleveland Browns]] (DL)
| coach_years4       = 2019
| coach_team4        = [[Missouri Baptist Spartans football|Missouri Baptist]] (DL)
| coach_years5       = 2020
| coach_team5        = [[Western Carolina Catamounts football|Western Carolina]] (DL)
| coach_years6       = 2021–2024
| coach_team6        = [[Tennessee State Tigers football|Tennessee State]] (DL)
| coach_years7       = 2025–present
| coach_team7        = [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green]] (DL)
| overall_record     = 
| bowl_record        = 
| tournament_record  = 
| championships      = 
| awards             = 
; As a player
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1991 All-Pro Team|1991]], [[1992 All-Pro Team|1992]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1992 Pro Bowl|1991]], [[1993 Pro Bowl|1992]])
* [[List of NFL annual sacks leaders|NFL sacks leader]] (1992)
* [[List of NFL annual forced fumbles leaders|NFL forced fumbles co-leader]] (1995)
* [[Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team]]
* [[Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame]]
* Western Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame
| coaching_records   = 
}}
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{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Clyde Simmons
| image         = 
| image_size    = 
| alt           = 
| caption       = 
| number        = 96
| current_team  = 
| position      = [[Defensive end]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1964|8|4}}
| birth_place   = [[Lane, South Carolina]], U.S.
| death_date    = 
| death_place   = 
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 5
| weight_lb     = 292
| high_school   = [[New Hanover High School|New Hanover]] <br> ([[Wilmington, North Carolina]])
| college       = [[Western Carolina Catamounts football|Western Carolina]] (1983–1985)
| draftyear     = 1986
| draftround    = 9
| draftpick     = 233
| pastteams     = 
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1986|1993}})
* [[Arizona Cardinals]] ({{NFL Year|1994|1995}})
* [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] ({{NFL Year|1996|1997}})
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|1998}})
* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1999|2000}})
| pastcoaching  = 
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|2010}}) <br> Coaching intern
* [[St. Louis Rams|St. Louis]] / [[Los Angeles Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2012|2016}}) <br> Assistant defensive line coach
* [[Cleveland Browns]] ({{NFL Year|2017|2018}}) <br> Defensive line coach
* [[Missouri Baptist Spartans football|Missouri Baptist]] (2019) <br> Defensive line coach
* [[Western Carolina Catamounts football|Western Carolina]] (2020) <br> Defensive line coach
* [[Tennessee State Tigers football|Tennessee State]] (2021–2024) <br> Defensive line coach
* [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green]] (2025–present) <br> Defensive line coach
| highlights    = 
; As a player
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1991 All-Pro Team|1991]], [[1992 All-Pro Team|1992]])
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1992 Pro Bowl|1991]], [[1993 Pro Bowl|1992]])
* [[List of NFL annual sacks leaders|NFL sacks leader]] (1992)
* [[List of NFL annual forced fumbles leaders|NFL forced fumbles co-leader]] (1995)
* [[Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team]]
* [[Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame]]
* Western Carolina University Athletics Hall of Fame
| statlabel1    = Total [[Tackle (football move)#Gridiron football|tackles]]
| statvalue1    = 966
| statlabel2    = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2    = 121.5.
| statlabel3    = [[Safety (gridiron football score)|Safeties]]
| statvalue3    = 1
| statlabel4    = Forced [[fumble]]s
| statvalue4    = 25
| statlabel5    = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue5    = 14
| statlabel6    = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue6    = 3
| statlabel7    = Interception yards
| statvalue7    = 85
| statlabel8    = Total [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue8    = 5
| pfr           = S/SimmCl00
}}
-->
'''Clyde Simmons Jr.''' (born August 4, 1964) is an American [[American football|football]] coach who currently is the defensive line coach for the [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green Falcons]]. He played as a [[defensive end]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He was a twice first-team [[All-Pro]] and a twice [[Pro Bowl]] selection with the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. He was named to the [[Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame]].

==Playing career==
===College===
Simmons played [[college football]] at [[Western Carolina Catamounts football|Western Carolina University]] helping lead the Catamounts to the 1983 [[NCAA Division I-AA]] National Championship game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citizen-times.com/story/sports/2015/04/30/western-carolina-national-football-league/26643981/|title=From Western Carolina to the NFL, a look at Cats' best}}</ref> In 1992 he was inducted into the [[Western Carolina University|Western Carolina]] Athletics Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catamountsports.com/honors/western-carolina-athletics-hall-of-fame/clyde-simmons/100|title = Clyde Simmons (2002) - Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame}}</ref>

===NFL===
Simmons was selected in the ninth round of the [[1986 NFL draft]] by the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] where he spent 8 seasons (1986–1993).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1986 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1986/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> After leaving Philadelphia he went on to play for the [[Arizona Cardinals]] (1994–1995), [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] (1996–1997), [[Cincinnati Bengals]] (1998), and the [[Chicago Bears]] (1999–2000). He led the NFL with 19 sacks in [[1992 NFL season|1992]] and finished his career 11th all time on the NFL sack list, with 121.5. (Currently ranked 22nd all time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Sacks Career Leaders (since 1960) |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/sacks_career.htm |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>)He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1992.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/clyde-simmons-out-of-the-shadows-into-the-spotlight|title = Clyde Simmons: Out of the Shadows, into the Spotlight}}</ref> Simmons also returned an [[interception]] for a [[touchdown]] against [[Jim Kelly]] and the [[Buffalo Bills]] in the 1996 [[NFL Playoffs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jaguars.com/news/twenty-five-seasons-twenty-five-games-jaguars-30-bills-27|title = Twenty-five seasons, twenty-five games: Jaguars 30, Bills 27}}</ref>

==Post-playing career==
Simmons began his coaching career in 2008 at Greater Atlanta Christian School as the defensive line coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catamountsports.com/honors/western-carolina-athletics-hall-of-fame/clyde-simmons/100|title = Clyde Simmons (2002) - Western Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame}}</ref>

In 2010, he accepted an offer from [[Rex Ryan]] as a fellowship coach with the [[New York Jets]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/sports/football/30simmons.html|title = A Chance to Get Back in the Game|newspaper = The New York Times|date = September 29, 2010|last1 = Caldwell|first1 = Dave}}</ref>

Simmons was an assistant defensive line coach for the [[History of the St. Louis Rams|St. Louis]]/[[Los Angeles Rams]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2012/4/10/2938922/st-louis-rams-coaches-gregg-williams|title=St. Louis Rams Complete Their Coaching Staff, Sans Gregg Williams|date=April 10, 2012}}</ref> The Rams had 217 total sacks during Simmons' tenure. With the Rams, Simmons coached three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and the 2014 [[National Football League Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year]] [[Aaron Donald]], and defensive end [[Robert Quinn (American football)|Robert Quinn]], who set a single-season franchise record with 19 sacks in 2013. In January 2017, he was hired by the Cleveland Browns to coach their defensive line.<ref>{{cite web | last=Alper | first=Josh | title=Report: Clyde Simmons joining Browns coaching staff | website=NBC Sports | date=2017-01-17 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/report-clyde-simmons-joining-browns-coaching-staff | access-date=2025-07-25}}</ref>

In 2019, he was hired as a defensive line coach at [[Missouri Baptist University|Missouri Baptist]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mbuspartans.com/news/2019/7/17/football-former-nfl-star-coach-clyde-simmons-hired-as-mbu-d-line-coach.aspx|title=Former NFL Star, Coach Clyde Simmons Hired as Mbu D-Line Coach|date=July 17, 2019 }}</ref>

In May 2021, he was hired by new [[Tennessee State Tigers football|Tennessee State]] head football coach [[Eddie George]] as the Tigers' defensive line coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tsutigers.com/staff-directory/clyde-simmons/363|title = Clyde Simmons - Defensive Line Coach - Staff Directory}}</ref>

In March 2025, he was hired as the defensive line coach at [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footballscoop.com/2025/03/25/sources-eddie-georges-bowling-green-staff-beginning-to-take-shape|title=Sources: Eddie George's Bowling Green staff beginning to take shape|website=FootballScoop.com|first=John|last=Brice|date=March 25, 2025|access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://mbuspartans.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/clyde-simmons/546 Missouri Baptist Spartans profile]
* [https://catamountsports.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/clyde-simmons/813 Western Carolina Catamounts coaching profile]
* [https://tsutigers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/clyde-simmons/628 Tennessee State Tigers profile]
* [https://bgsufalcons.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/clyde-simmons/2327 Bowling Green Falcons profile]
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimmCl00.htm pro-football-reference.com Clyde Simmons career statistics]

{{NFL sack leaders}}
{{100 sacks club}}
{{NFL forced fumbles annual leaders}}
{{Eagles1986DraftPicks}}
{{Eagles75}}
{{Eagles Hall of Fame}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Clyde}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football defensive ends]]
[[Category:Arizona Cardinals players]]
[[Category:Bowling Green Falcons football coaches]]
[[Category:Cleveland Browns coaches]]
[[Category:Chicago Bears players]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players]]
[[Category:Missouri Baptist Spartans football coaches]]
[[Category:New Hanover High School alumni]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Tennessee State Tigers football coaches]]
[[Category:Western Carolina Catamounts football players]]
[[Category:Western Carolina Catamounts football coaches]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:People from Williamsburg County, South Carolina]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Wilmington, North Carolina]]
[[Category:Coaches of American football from North Carolina]]
[[Category:African-American coaches of American football]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Brian Piccolo Award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]