View source for Corey Simon

{{Short description|American football player and politician (born 1977)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2010}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Corey Simon
| image               = Senator Corey Simon.jpg
| state_senate        = Florida
| district            = [[Florida's 3rd Senate district|3rd]]
| term_start          = November 8, 2022
| preceded            = [[Loranne Ausley]]
| birth_name          = Corey Jermaine Simon
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1977|3|2|mf=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Pompano Beach, Florida]], U.S.
| death_date          =
| death_place         =
| spouse              = {{marriage|Natasha Givens|March 3, 2001}}
| children            = 1
| education           = [[Florida State University]]
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| website             = https://simonforflorida.com/
|module        = {{Infobox NFL biography
| embed       = yes
| position    = [[Defensive tackle]]
| number      = 90, 97, 96
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 0
| weight_lbs  = 320
| high_school = [[Blanche Ely High School|Blanche Ely]]<br/>(Pompano Beach, Florida)
| college     = [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]] (1996–1999)
| draftyear   = 2000
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 6
| pastteams   = * [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|2000}}–{{NFL Year|2004}})
* [[Indianapolis Colts]] ({{NFL Year|2005}}–{{NFL Year|2006}})
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2007}})
| highlights  = *[[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XLI|XLI]])
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[2004 Pro Bowl|2003]])
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[PFWA All-Rookie Team#2000|2000]])
* [[BCS National Championship]] ([[2000 Sugar Bowl|1999]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1999 College Football All-America Team|1999]])
* [[Atlantic Coast Conference football individual awards|ACC Brian Piccolo Award]] (1998)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Atlantic Coast Conference football teams|All-ACC]] ([[1998 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1998]], [[1999 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team|1999]])
| statlabel1  = [[Tackle (football move)|Total tackles]]
| statvalue1  = 246
| statlabel2  = [[Quarterback sacks|Sacks]]
| statvalue2  = 32.0
| statlabel3  = [[Fumble|Forced fumbles]]
| statvalue3  = 9
| statlabel4  = [[Fumble|Fumble recoveries]]
| statvalue4  = 3
| pfr         = SimoCo00
}}
}}
'''Corey Jermaine Simon Sr.''' (born March 2, 1977) is an American politician and former professional [[American football|football]] player. A member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]], he has served as the [[Florida Senate|Florida State Senator]] from the 3rd district since 2022. He played as a [[defensive tackle]] for eight seasons in the [[National Football League]] (NFL).

He played [[college football]] for the [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State Seminoles]], earned consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] honors, and was a member of a [[BCS National Championship]] team. He was selected by the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] with the sixth overall pick in the [[2000 NFL draft]], and he played professionally for the Eagles, [[Indianapolis Colts]] and [[Tennessee Titans]]. He was selected to the [[2004 Pro Bowl]].

==Early life==
Simon was born in [[Pompano Beach, Florida]]. He attended [[Blanche Ely High School]], where he played for the Ely Mighty Tigers [[high school football]] team. As a senior, he was the ''[[Miami Herald]]'''s defensive player of the year, named to the All-USA squad by ''[[USA Today]]'', and a Super Prep Dream Team selection.

==College career==
Simon accepted an athletic scholarship to attend [[Florida State University]], where he played for coach [[Bobby Bowden]]'s [[Florida State Seminoles football|Seminoles]] teams from 1996 to 1999. He was considered to be the most dominating defensive lineman in college football. Following his senior season, Simon was a first-team [[List of All-Atlantic Coast Conference football teams|All-Atlantic Coast Conference]] (ACC) selection, and was recognized as a consensus first-team [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]].<ref>''2011 NCAA Football Records Book'', [http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Awards.pdf Award Winners], National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 25, 2012.</ref> He was also a finalist for the [[Lombardi Award]] and [[Outland Trophy]]. He ended his career at FSU by helping his team win a [[BCS National Championship]]. His 44 tackles behind the line of scrimmage tied the Seminoles' career record set by [[Ron Simmons]].

==Professional career==
===Philadelphia Eagles===
[[File:Corey Simon DF-SD-07-04212 crop.JPG|thumb|left|175px|Simon in 2004]]
The [[Philadelphia Eagles]] selected him in the first round (sixth pick overall) of the [[2000 NFL draft]], and he played for the Eagles from 2000 until 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2000 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2000/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> He started in four [[NFC Championship]] games during his six seasons with the Eagles. Philadelphia reached the Super Bowl once during these years, losing [[Super Bowl XXXIX]] to the [[2004 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], 24–21. After the 2004 season, the Eagles placed the [[franchise tag]] on Simon,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2005/02/11/dt-simon-is-tagged-by-eagles/|title=DY Simon is tagged by Eagles|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=February 11, 2005|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> which he refused to sign. After contract negotiations failed to produce a long-term deal, the Eagles lifted the franchise tag, making Simon an unrestricted free agent.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pasquarelli |first=Len |author-link=Len Pasquarelli |date=August 29, 2005 |title=Denfensive tackle become unrestricted free agent |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/titans-sign-former-colt-dt-simon-09000d5d801e60c1 |access-date=December 23, 2022 |work=ESPN}}</ref>

===Indianapolis Colts===
Simon signed with the [[Indianapolis Colts]], for whom he played the entire 2005 season. In 2006, Simon underwent surgery, was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform / Non-Football Injury list during training camp, and did not play in any games. He did not attend [[Super Bowl XLI]] with other inactive players. However, he was still delivered a ring. He was once coined "the missing piece to the Super Bowl puzzle".

On August 1, 2007, Colts owner [[Jim Irsay]] stated that Simon's release from the team was imminent, once a settlement could be reached. The team announced Simon's release on August 4.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/colts-terminate-corey-simon-s-contract-09000d5d80134bcb|title=Colts terminate Corey Simon's contract|website=NFL.com|date=August 4, 2007|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref>

===Tennessee Titans===
On August 28, 2007, the [[Tennessee Titans]] signed Simon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/titans-sign-former-colt-dt-simon-09000d5d801e60c1|title=Titans sign former Colt DT Simon|website=NFL.com|date=August 28, 2007|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> On October 25, Simon announced that he was retiring from professional football after eight seasons in the NFL because of [[polyarthritis]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Walker|first=Teresa M.|title=Titans' Corey Simon announces retirement|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-10-25-1490953229_x.htm|publisher=USA TODAY|access-date=April 30, 2011|date=October 26, 2007}}</ref>

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="4"| Tackles
! colspan="2"| Fumbles
! colspan="6"| Interceptions
|-
! Cmb !! Solo !! Ast !! Sck !! FF !! FR !! Int !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! PD
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] || [[2000 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| '''16''' || '''52''' || '''38''' || '''14''' || '''9.5''' || 2 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''3'''
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] || [[2001 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| '''16''' || 47 || 36 || 11 || 7.5 || '''4''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''3'''
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] || [[2002 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 14 || 40 || 33 || 7 || 2.0 || 0 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || '''3'''
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] || [[2003 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| '''16''' || 40 || 32 || 8 || 7.5 || 2 || '''1''' || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2004 NFL season|2004]] || [[2004 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| '''16''' || 32 || 26 || 6 || 5.5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
! [[2005 NFL season|2005]] || [[2005 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 13 || 34 || 25 || 9 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
! [[2006 NFL season|2006]] || style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em;"|[[2006 Indianapolis Colts season|IND]]
| 0 || colspan="12"| ''Did not play''
|-
! [[2007 NFL season|2007]] || [[2007 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
|  4 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Total<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web|title=Corey Simon Stats|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/2137/corey-simon|work=ESPN|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|access-date=March 21, 2014}}</ref> || 95 || 246 || 190 || 56 || 32.0 || 9 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 14
|}

==Political career==
On June 13, 2022, Simon announced his candidacy for [[Florida]]'s Third senatorial district, running as a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] against [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Loranne Ausley]], after serving as CEO of Volunteer Florida.<ref name="td1">{{cite web|url=https://eu.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2022/06/14/corey-simon-versus-sen-loranne-ausley-tallahassees-senate-seat-florida/7617926001/|title=Former FSU football star hopes to ride 'a really big red wave' over Sen. Loranne Ausley|work=Tallahassee Democrat|first=James|last=Call|date=June 14, 2022|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> Due to redistricting, the [[Florida Legislature]] redrew Florida's Third senatorial district boundaries to the east and reduced the Democratic advantage seen in previous elections.<ref name="td1"/> Simon had the backing and was recruited by Florida Governor [[Ron DeSantis]],<ref name="td1"/> Senate President [[Kathleen Passidomo]]<ref name="td1"/> and Senator [[Ben Albritton]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wctv.tv/2022/06/14/former-fsu-nfl-standout-corey-simon-run-florida-office/|title=Former FSU and NFL standout Corey Simon to run for Florida office|website=WCTV|first=David|last=Johnson|date=June 14, 2022|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> due to his association with [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State University football]]. Simon canceled a debate with the ''[[Tallahassee Democrat]]'' and the [[League of Women Voters]], labeling them a "liberal farce".<ref name="td2">{{cite web|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/10/14/loranne-ausley-gun-ad-corey-simon-biden-comment-latest-attack-lines/10464899002/|title=Election denialism and 'racist implications': Ausley and Simon on the attack over attack ads|work=Tallahassee Democrat|first=James|last=Call|date=October 14, 2022|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> Simon also accused Ausley and the [[Florida Democratic Party]] of funding racist advertisements depicting photos of children with nearby bullet holes and targets, as well as Simon in a target frame with stray bullets to the side. The flyer was produced by the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, led by Minority Leader [[Lauren Book]]. Simon campaigned heavily against votes Ausley made during her time in the Florida Legislature such as voting against the Fairness in Women's Sports Act (SB 1028) which specifies that an athletic team or sport that is designated for females, women, or girls may not be open to students of the male sex, based on the student's biological sex listed on the student's official birth certificate at the time of birth.<ref name="td3">{{cite web|url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/10/28/loranne-ausley-vs-corey-simon-florida-senate-race-goes-down-wire/10595078002/|title=Ausley vs. Simon: Amid a GOP ad barrage, Florida Senate Democrats bank on 'personal' touch|work=Tallahassee Democrat|first=James|last=Call|date=October 28, 2022|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> Simon also repeatedly went after her vote against the [[Parental Rights in Education Act]], which prohibits "classroom instruction" on sexual orientation or gender identity in "kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards".<ref name="td3"/> On November 8, 2022, Simon defeated Ausley in the general election with 53% of the vote.<ref name="wfsu">{{cite web|url=https://news.wfsu.org/wfsu-local-news/2022-11-08/republican-corey-simon-defeats-sen-ausley-in-sd3-race|title=Republican Corey Simon defeats Sen. Ausley in SD3 race|website=WFSU News|first=Valerie|last=Crowder|date=November 8, 2022|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> Simon is the first [[African American]] Republican State Senator from Florida since Reconstruction.<ref name="wfsu"/>

===Electoral history===

====2022====
{{Election box begin no change|title=Florida Senate District 3 – General Election<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11/8/2022&DATAMODE= |title=Florida Department of State - Election Results}}</ref>}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Corey Simon|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=113,477|percentage=52.98%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=[[Loranne Ausley]] (incumbent)|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=100,696|percentage=47.02%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=214,173|percentage=100.00%}}
{{Election box gain with party link no swing
 | winner = Republican Party (United States)
 | loser  = Democratic Party (United States)
}}{{Election box end}}

====2024====
{{Election box begin no change|title=Florida Senate District 3 – General Election<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.elections.myflorida.com/Index.asp?ElectionDate=11/5/2024&DATAMODE= |title=Florida Department of State - Election Results}}</ref>}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Corey Simon|party=Republican Party (United States)|votes=154,515|percentage=55.67%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Daryl Parks|party=Democratic Party (United States)|votes=123,025|percentage=44.33%}}
{{Election box total no change|votes=277540|percentage=100.00%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
 | winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}{{Election box end}}

==Personal life==
In 2001, Simon married Natasha Givens.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.info/nflmedia/news/2000news/corey%20simon.htm|title=Media Alert - Corey Simon|website=nfl.info|date=March 2, 2001|access-date=December 23, 2022}}</ref> Together, the couple have a son, Corey Jr. (born 2003).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2003/01/14/eagles-have-jets-to-thank/|title=Eagles have Jets to thank|work=St. Petersburg Times|first=Kevin|last=Kelly|date=January 13, 2003|access-date=February 27, 2023|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030216144021/http://www.sptimes.com:80/2003/01/14/Bucs/Eagles_have_Jets_to_t.shtml|archivedate=February 16, 2003|url-status=dead|quote=In addition to sacking Michael Vick in Philadelphia's 20-6 win against the Falcons, the Florida State product became a father when wife Natasha gave birth to a boy, Corey Jr., at 5:30 a.m. "It was the best day of my life," Simon said. "You can throw the game out. My son being born was the best day of my life. Winning that game was whipped cream on top of it, just icing on the cake. When I went home and saw my wife and kid, it put things in perspective. Life is bigger than wins and losses."}}</ref> He lives in [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://floridapolitics.com/archives/588603-corey-simon-endorses-evan-power-for-florida-gop-chair/|title=Corey Simon endorses Evan Power for Florida GOP Chair|work=Florida Politics|date=February 15, 2023|last=Ogles|first=Jacob|accessdate=February 27, 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070717214545/http://www.coreysimon97.com/ Official website of Corey Simon]
*{{commons category-inline}}

{{Florida State Senators}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Articles related to Corey Simon
|list1=
{{1999 Florida State Seminoles football navbox}}
{{1999 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{2000 NFL Draft}}
{{EaglesFirstPick}}
{{Eagles2000DraftPicks}}
{{Super Bowl XLI}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simon, Corey}}
[[Category:Republican Party Florida state senators]]
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American football defensive tackles]]
[[Category:Florida State Seminoles football players]]
[[Category:Indianapolis Colts players]]
[[Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Boynton Beach, Florida]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]
[[Category:Blanche Ely High School alumni]]
[[Category:Black conservatism in the United States]]
[[Category:African-American state legislators in Florida]]
[[Category:American athlete-politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Florida Legislature]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American politicians]]