Tony Simmons (gridiron football)

Tony Simmons

No. 15, 18, 81, 82, 88
Position:	Wide Receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1974-12-08) December 8, 1974 (age 47) Chicago, Illinois
Career information
High school:	Chicago (IL) St. Rita
College:	Wisconsin
NFL Draft:	1998 / Round: 2 / Pick: 52
Career history
As a player:
New England Patriots (1998–2000) Barcelona Dragons (NFLE) (2001) Cleveland Browns (2001) Indianapolis Colts (2001) Houston Texans (2002)* New York Giants (2002) Edmonton Eskimos (2004)* BC Lions (2005–2007) (2010) (2011) (2013) (2019)
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
(2010) (OC/ST/) (2011) (HC/OC/DC/ST/) (2012) (HC//OC/DC/ST/) (2012) (HC/OC/DC/ST/) (2013) (HC/OC/DC/ST/) (2013) (HC/OC/DC/ST/) (2014) (HC/OC/DC/ST/) (2015) (HC/OC/DC/ST/) Bluefield College Rams (2015) (//ST) (2016) (HC/OC/DC/ST/) Moscow Patriots (2016) (HC//ST/) (2016) (HC//OC/) (2016) (HC//OC/DC) (2017) (HC/OC/DC/ST/) (2017) () Eidsvoll 1814s (2018) (/OC/DC) (2018) () (2018) (/OC/DC) Eidsvoll 1814s (2019) (/OC/DC) (2019) (HC//OC/DC) (2020) (HC//OC/)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 58 Receiving yards: 998 Touchdowns: 6
Career CFL statistics
Receptions: 34 Receiving yards: 504 Touchdowns: 4
Player stats at NFL.com · CFL.ca (archive)

Tony De'Angelo Simmons (born December 8, 1974) is a former American football player. He played in the National Football League for the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans and New York Giants. He has also played for the Edmonton Eskimos, BC Lions of the Canadian Football League and the in Denmark and the in Hungary.

High school[]

Simmons attended St. Rita High School on Chicago's south side. In 1993, he was named Chicago Sun-Times Prep Athlete of the Year for his participation in both football and track. As a senior, Simmons won the state championship in the 100- and 200-meter dash events with times of 10.5 seconds and 21.58 seconds, respectively. He shares a distinction with two other NFL players who also attended both St. Rita and the University of Wisconsin–Madison: former high school and college teammate Ahmad Merritt, and former Chicago Bear Dennis Lick. Simmons and Merritt played against each other and caught touchdown passes in World Bowl IX. In April 2011, Simmons was inducted into the St. Rita High School Hall of Fame.

College career[]

Simmons played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He left Wisconsin as the school's all-time leader in touchdown receptions with 23 (this record has since been broken by Lee Evans), earning him the nickname "Touchdown Tony" among the Camp Randall faithful. He also competed in track Wisconsin and he is a Big Ten 100m (10.15) and 200m (20.44) Champion. He was part of the 1995-1997 Triple Crown Champions (Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track)

NFL career[]

Simmons was drafted into the NFL in the second round (52nd overall pick) of the 1998 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.

Simmons played five seasons as a pro with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants. He amassed 58 receptions for 998 yards with six touchdowns, averaging 20.8 receiving yards per game. Simmons also had 12 punt/kick returns for 241 yards, averaging 20.1 yards per return.

NFL Europe career[]

In 2001, Simmons starred at wide receiver for the regular-season champion Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europa. He finished the season with 32 catches for 538 yards and caught seven touchdowns.

CFL[]

Simmons played from 2004 to 2007 for CFL teams Edmonton Eskimos, and BC Lions as a wide receiver. He recorded 34 receptions for 504 yards, averaging 14.8 yards with four touchdowns. BC Lions reached and won the Prestigious 94th Grey Cup.

Coaching Career in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia[]

Denmark[]

In March 2010, Simmons signed with Danish team Triangle Razorbacks. He played wide receiver and served as the team's offensive coordinator and special-teams coach. Played in the Mermaid Bowl and finished 2nd place.^[1][2]

Hungary[]

In January 2011, Simmons joined the Hungarian team Békéscsaba Raptors as head coach. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, strength/speed coach, and wide receiver. The team reached the Pannon Bowl and finished 2nd place.

India[]

In January 2012, Simmons joined the EFLI to help develop coaches and players as a coaching consultant, coach, and referee in the first-ever American football played in India. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, strength/speed coach, and referee.

Austria[]

In April 2012, Simmons joined the Austrian team Amstetten Thunder as head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach.

Italy[]

In January 2013, Simmons joined the Italian team Cagliari Crusaders as head coach. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach.

Brazil LFA Brazilian Pro League[]

In July 2013, Simmons joined the Brazilian team East São Paulo as head coach. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach.

Finland[]

In November 2013, Simmons agreed to a deal with the to serve as their head coach for the 2014 Maple League season.^[3][4] He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, strength/speed coach and coaching consultant.

Italy[]

In January 2015, Simmons joined the to serve as their head coach. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach.^[5]

United States[]

In July 2015, Simmons joined the Bluefield College Rams to serve as their receivers/tight end coach and assistant strength conditioning coach.^[6]

United States Reality TV Personality[]

In November 2015, Simmons joined the cast of American Grit an American reality television series starring WWE wrestler John Cena filmed at the foothills of Mount Rainier in Eatonville, Washington that premiered on Fox on April 14, 2016. Simmons finished third in the competition.

Poland[]

In January 2016, Simmons joined the as head coach. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach.

Russia[]

In May 2016, Simmons joined the Moscow Patriots as head coach. He also served as offensive coordinator, coaching consultant, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach. The Moscow Patriots won the Russian American Football Championship with a perfect season. Also, the head coach, coaching consultant, offensive coordinator, and strength/speed coach for the .

Brazil[]

In October 2016, Simmons joined the Sao Paulo Spartans as head coach. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach.^[7]

Switzerland[]

In January 2017, Simmons joined the as head coach. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach.^[8]

Ghana[]

In July 2017 and July 2018, Simmons was the Head Camp Director of the . Ezekiel Ansah is a fellow NFL athlete. The 2-day inaugural Ezekiel Ansah Football Camp had more than 500 participants from various schools in the Accra metropolis. The students enjoyed lots of giveaways and had fun learning the game of football. The aim of the camp is to introduce a set of skills often used in the sport of American football while promoting the importance of physical education, teamwork, and demonstrating the discipline to work hard towards one’s goals. The maiden Ezekiel Ansah Football Camp commenced on the 14th of July 2017 at the Presbyterian Senior Secondary Schools. ^[9]

Norway[]

In January 2018 - July 2019, Simmons joined the Eidsvoll 1814s as offensive coordinator. He also served as defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach, and recruiter. In 2018, he helped lead the Senior team to the playoffs and the U17 team to a Championship. In 2019, he help lead the Senior team to a Runner-Up finish in the Championship and the U17 to a 3rd place finish. ^[10]

Germany[]

In October 2018, Simmons joined the as the Team consultant. During his time with the Rebels, he developed and implemented recruiting camps, football skills camps, and sports performance training at Transformers Gymnasium for the city of Rosenheim. He helped develop with coaches the Rebels' new aggressive football playbooks and schemes. In the upcoming season, the Rebels won the Championship. ^[11]

Australia[]

In July 2019, Simmons joined the as head coach and player. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach, recruiter, team manager, and sports consultant. ^[12]

Mexico[]

In January 2020, Simmons joined the as its first head coach in its inaugural year in the Mexican American Football League(FAM). The season was cut short in March because of the world pandemic COVID-19. He also served as offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special-teams coordinator, and strength/speed coach, recruiter, team manager, and business consultant. ^[13]

References[]

External links[]

• Tony Simmons at CFL.ca
• Tony Simmons at NFL.com
• Tony Simmons at Europlayers.com