Jeffery Simmons wrote a high-profile chapter during his Mississippi State career. Now as this former Bulldog reaches the prime of his professional career he is making history.
Yesterday the Tennessee Titans made Simmons the highest-paid defensive tackle not just in the NFL this year; but in the league's history. Simmons and the Titans came to terms and signed a three-year extension to his current contract which will reward him with $105,800,000 million.
"Tennessee has become a second home for me," Noxubee County native Simmons said in a provided statement. "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.
A four-time Pro Bowl selection, a five-time captain, and a three-time Community Man of the Year winner for the Titans, Simmons recorded a career-high 11 sacks in 2025, when he also recorded 60 quarterback pressures, 67 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and three forced fumbles.
Simmons has played in 99 regular season games and five playoff games over his seven-year career so far, with 376 total tackles and 42.5 sacks. He has even scored twice on offensive plays as a receiver.
Now with the contract signed and settled, "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."
The annual extension to Simmons' contract comes in at an average of $35,300,000 million and tops the previous record holder…who happens to his most immediate Mississippi State predecessor. Former Dog defensive tackle Chris Jones had the standard at $31,800,000 million with the Chiefs.
To be sure NFL contracts are a complex thing, so much so Heisenberg's famous cat would be uncertain what all is certain and what is kinda/sorta so.
Still according to Spotrac.com, Simmons has an estimated base salary of $20,173,000 for 2026 with a $4,800,000 proration, $210,843 structure, and roster bonus of $441,176. His count against the Titans' cap is $25,625,019.
The same site shows Simmons' career earnings to date total $73,743,292. For a comparison, Jones has made a listed $154,623,058 over his own career. Jones is shows as on contract with Kansas City through 2028 though he can opt out after this 2026 season.
But those two career tallies combined come up short to the highest-paid Bulldog alumnus of all. He being of course Dak Prescott. Per Spotrac's accounting, since he first inked a deal with Dallas this Cowboy quarterback has been recompensed a cool $297,877,132.
Prescott's case exemplifies the quirks of NFL contract accounting as his 2026 base salary is a mere $1,800,000. It is the restructure bonus of $38,200,00 and $40 million even cash total where the real money comes. Also in 2027 this turns into a straight base salary of $45,000,000 and then the next year $55,000,000.
That total will pay the bills quite nicely out in Dallas…or buy the Air Force a couple of medium bombers.
For another comparison, Logan Cooke has been paid a mere $17,390,973 over the course of his accounted career with Jacksonville. But then again for a brief moment a year ago this former Bulldog was the highest-paid punter in the entire NFL. That's a good deal for the player on any team that fans least want to see take to the field.