**By Jim Kleinpeter, special to NewOrleansSaints.com**
Cell phones rang, text chains pinged and tears flowed Friday at the news that longtime New Orleans Saints equipment manager Dan Simmons [died in his hometown of St. Louis at age 78](https://www.neworleanssaints.com/news/new-orleans-saints-mourn-loss--dan-chief-simmons-head-equipment-manager).
The man everyone called "Chief" was like a thread that ran through and connected current and former Saints players, coaches and organization staff members with his proficiency at his job and the caring attitude he took toward everyone he associated with.
The love and admiration poured out from anyone asked.
"Dan was THE best," Saints team legend Archie Manning said. "If I was going to sum up Dan, it was kindness. Such a humble, kind person. If everybody in the Saints organization could have done their job like Dan, we would have won a lot more championships."
Former Saints offensive tackle Stan Brock was one of his closest player friends and considered him a father figure from the start as a rookie in 1980.
"I loved that guy," Brock said. "When I got inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame, that's who I wanted, Dan and (former trainer) Dean Kleinschmidt were my presenters. He meant a lot to a lot of people, but really a lot to me.
"He cared so much about us as players. He took great pride at being with the Saints and doing things the right way. We were all like little kids. He played a lot of different roles. He was a friend and a father. He'd kick you in the ass when you needed it and pat you on the back when you needed that, too."
Simmons was a fixture in the organization through 858 preseason, regular season and playoff games and continued even after his 42 years of service (1973-2014) were up. Since retirement, he has served as an alumni/legends coordinator, assisting in the club's outreach efforts to involve former players with the organization and is also a club contact with the NFL's Legends Program, which is designed to help former NFL players connect with each other, their former teams and the league.
Former Saints kicker Morten Andersen called him a "connector on many levels" which made him perfect choice for the alumni/legends role. Andersen would know having been introduced to his wife of 28 years, Jennifer, by Simmons.
"He was the best; he was like a father to me when I came to the Saints in 1982," Andersen said. "I grew up with him. He was steady, he and (assistant equipment manager) Silky (Powell) behind that window. It just felt right, like a good pair of kicking shoes.
"We never called him Dan, always Chief. If you wanted the temperature of the team, or advice, you'd go to Chief. He gives the straight and narrow real quick, not sugar-coated. He wasn't mean about it, but very wise and really sweet."