Keith Simons

Keith Michael Simons (April 26, 1954 – July 26, 2017) was an American football player. He was a defensive tackle who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League.[1] He played college football at the University of Minnesota.[1] He was named to the Associated Press All-Big Ten team in 1975.[2]

Simons was selected by the Chiefs with the 63rd pick in the 3rd round of the 1976 NFL Draft.[1] He made his presence felt in his very first preseason game, when he blocked a field goal attempt in overtime and teammate Emmitt Thomas recovered the ball and returned it for a game winning touchdown.[3] He was placed on the injured reserve list in October after tearing knee ligaments in a game against the Miami Dolphins.[4] Simons played in 6 games for the Chiefs during the regular season in 1976, starting all 6.[1] In 1977, he played in all 16 games for the Chiefs, again starting 6.[1] The Chiefs traded him to the New Orleans Saints before the 1978 season but the Saints cut him before the season started.[5][6] He was signed by the Cardinals in September 1978 and played two seasons for the Cardinals as a backup nose tackle, getting into 29 games.[7][1] The Cardinals released him before the 1980 season.[8] Diagnosed with bladder and lung cancer earlier in the year,[9] he died on July 26, 2017 at the age of 63.[10]