Matt Simms (American football)

Matthew Phillip Simms[1] (born September 27, 1988) is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Tennessee, before being signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2012. Simms is the son of former New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms and younger brother of former NFL quarterback Chris Simms.[2]

Matt Simms
Simms with the Atlanta Falcons in 2016
Free agent
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1988-09-27) September 27, 1988
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:209 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:Don Bosco Prep
(Ramsey, New Jersey)
College:Tennessee
Undrafted:2012
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of 2018
Pass attempts:39
Pass completions:19
Percentage:48.7
TD–INT:1–1
Passing yards:195
Passer rating:61.4
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

Simms was born in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey to Diana and Phil Simms. His older brother, Chris, played quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following an extraordinary career at Ramapo High School. Matt attended Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey where he played quarterback on the football team for three years.[3] During this time, he passed for more than 6,000 yards and 60 touchdowns. Though the team lost the state championship game his junior year, he was selected as a first team All-State player by the Associated Press. The next year, they went undefeated and won the state title. After his senior year, he played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.[4]

College career

After graduating from high school, Simms received a scholarship to the University of Louisville.[5] During his freshman year, he saw limited action, playing in two games and throwing four passes. Simms then left Louisville to attend El Camino College in Torrance, California. While at El Camino he led the team to its fourth consecutive league title and threw for over 2,000 yards in ten games.[4]

Simms later left El Camino for the University of Tennessee. As a child, he always had a dislike for Tennessee's rival, the University of Florida.[6] During the 2010 season, he played in ten games and threw for over 1,400 yards.[7]

During the 2010 season, Simms was hampered by injuries to key receivers.[8] He lost the starting job late in the season to Tyler Bray due to poor performance.[9][10]

Simms's performance was the subject of a widely reported "heated dispute" between Desmond Howard and Phil Simms during the week before Super Bowl XLV.[10]

In the 2011 season, Simms appeared in seven games and started two. He was 27 of 62 for 319 passing yards and three interceptions.[11]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)		 212 lb
(96 kg)		 4.72 s 1.58 s 2.70 s 4.42 s 7.14 s 29 1⁄2 in
(0.75 m)		 9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)
All values from Tennessee Pro Day[12]

2012 season

Simms was signed by the New York Jets on May 6, 2012.[13] He was waived on August 31, 2012.[14] Simms signed a future/reserve contract on December 31, 2012.[15]

2013 season

Simms received playing time during the preseason against the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 17, 2013. He completed all five of his passes for 73 yards.[16] Simms played the following week against the New York Giants completing 6 of his 10 pass attempts for 120 yards and a touchdown.[17] On August 29, the final preseason contest, Simms started and played the entire game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He completed 33 of his 44 pass attempts for 285 yards.[18]

Simms threw his first career touchdown pass to tight end Jeff Cumberland in a Week 11 37–14 loss to the Buffalo Bills.[19] During Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins, Simms came in relief of starter Geno Smith in the third quarter; he completed 9 of his 18 passes for 79 yards with an interception and a lost fumble in the Jets' 3–23 loss. Simms appeared in three games of the 2013 season and finished the year with 156 passing yards.[20]

2014 season

Simms, an exclusive rights free agent, was re-signed by the Jets on January 13, 2014.[21] He was released on August 30, 2014 during the team's final roster cuts[22] and signed to the team's practice squad a day later.[23] He was promoted to the active roster on November 1, 2014.[24] He appeared in one game, a 24–10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, with the Jets in the 2014 season. He was 3-of-8 for 39 yards.[25]

Simms signed a one-year contract to remain with the Jets on December 30, 2014.[26] However, after the team drafted Bryce Petty and signed undrafted rookie Jake Heaps, Simms requested his release and was granted it on May 28, 2015.[27][28]

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills claimed Simms off waivers on May 29, 2015.[29] Simms was not expected to compete in the three-way competition for the starting quarterback position (Tyrod Taylor, EJ Manuel, and Matt Cassel) but was in the mix as a potential backup quarterback and was given the start for the Bills' final preseason game against the Detroit Lions on September 3. Late in that game, Simms, while trying to break a tackle, inadvertently threw the ball 20 yards backward, creating a loose-ball situation and setting the Lions up for the game-winning score.[30] Simms was released the next day.[31]

Atlanta Falcons

On September 7, 2015, Simms was signed to the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad.[32] On September 3, 2016, he was waived by the Falcons as part of final roster cuts and was signed to their practice squad the next day.[33][34][35]

On May 15, 2017, Simms re-signed with the Falcons.[36] He was waived/injured on September 2, 2017 and placed on injured reserve.[37] He was released with an injury settlement on September 5, 2017.[38]

Atlanta Legends

On November 27, 2018, he was selected in the second round by the Atlanta Legends in the 2019 AAF QB Draft.[39]

Simms started the 2019 AAF season opener against the Orlando Apollos, during which he completed 15 of 28 passes for 126 yards and two interceptions in the 40–6 loss.[40]

Atlanta Falcons (second stint)

On August 3, 2019, Simms was signed by the Atlanta Falcons to replace injured Kurt Benkert.[41] He was placed on injured reserve on August 31, 2019.[42]

After becoming a free agent in March 2020, Simms had a tryout with the Houston Texans on August 16, 2020.[43]

References
  1. "ESPN Profile". ESPN.com.
  2. Feldman, Bruce (December 16, 2009). "Source: Juco QB Simms signs with Vols". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  3. Staff. "Matt Simms leading candidate to be starting QB for Tennessee", The Star-Ledger, May 11, 2010. Accessed February 22, 2011. "Simms, a Franklin Lakes resident and graduate of Don Bosco Prep, started his college career at Louisville, but transferred after his freshman year to El Camino, a junior college."
  4. "Matt Simms Player Bio". Tennessee Football. Utsports.com. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  5. Holmes, Baxter (September 2, 2009). "Matt Simms and Nate Montana take a step back". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  6. Segrest, Doug (September 29, 2010). "UT's Matt Simms has Super Bowl pedigree -- and a distaste for Gators". The Birmingham News. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  7. "Matt Simms Profile". ESPN College Football. ESPN. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  8. Hunt, John (September 6, 2010). "Oregon football: Tennessee's Matt Simms needs his receivers to get experienced - and fast". The Oregonian. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  9. Smith, Erick (April 9, 2010). "Matt Simms looks to be the quarterback at Tennessee as competition quits team". USA Today. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  10. Gardner, Tim (February 5, 2011). "CBS analyst Phil Simms, Desmond Howard get into 'heated' dispute". USA Today. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
  11. "Matt Simms 2011 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  12. "Matt Simms". nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  13. Vrentas, Jenny (May 6, 2012). "Jets sign QB Matt Simms, son of Phil Simms". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on May 6, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  14. Lange, Randy (August 31, 2012). "Final 7 Cuts Announced, Roster's Now at 53". New York Jets. Archived from the original on September 1, 2012. Retrieved August 31, 2012.
  15. Jets Media Relations Department (December 31, 2012). "Jets Sign 8 to Reserve/Future Contracts". New York Jets. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved December 31, 2012.
  16. Associated Press (August 17, 2013). "Uneven Mark Sanchez plays into 3rd quarter of Jets' win vs. Jags". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  17. Associated Press (August 24, 2013). "Jets 24, Giants 21, OT". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  18. Associated Press (August 29, 2013). "Simms impressive as Jets top Eagles 27-20". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  19. "Jets notes: Milestone for Matt.Simms". Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  20. "Matt Simms 2013 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  21. Pelzman, J.P. (January 13, 2014). "Matt Simms, Jets agree to one-year deal". NorthJersey.com. Archived from the original on January 13, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
  22. Lange, Randy (August 30, 2014). "Jets Make Final Cuts to Get to 53". New York Jets. Archived from the original on August 30, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  23. Lange, Randy (August 31, 2014). "Seven Signed to Jets Practice Squad". New York Jets. Archived from the original on September 1, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  24. David Smith, Michael. "Jets activate quarterback Matt Simms from the practice squad". Pro Football Talk. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  25. "Matt Simms 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  26. Lange, Randy (December 30, 2014). "Jets Sign Simms, Plus 8 to Reserve/Future Deals". New York Jets. Archived from the original on December 31, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2014.
  27. Lange, Randy (May 28, 2015). "Jets Release QB Matt Simms". New York Jets. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  28. Slater, Darryl (May 28, 2015). "Jets release quarterback Matt Simms, N.J. native and Phil Simms' son, after he asked to be cut". NJ.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  29. Brown, Chris (May 29, 2015). "Bills awarded claim for QB Matt Simms". Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2015.
  30. Byrnes, Hayley (September 3, 2015). Matt Simms, who is an NFL QB, throws the ball 20 yards backwards. SB Nation. Retrieved September 4, 2015.
  31. http://wivb.com/2015/09/04/bills-cut-enemkpali-simms-in-latest-round-of-cuts/
  32. "Falcons Sign Eight Players to Practice Squad". AtlantaFalcons.com. September 7, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  33. "Falcons Finalize 53-Man Roster For 2016 Season". AtlantaFalcons.com. September 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 3, 2017.
  34. "Falcons Claim WR Gabriel, Sign 7 to Practice Squad". September 4, 2016. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  35. "Matt Simms' journeyman career leads to Falcons practice squad". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  36. Jackson, Curtis (May 15, 2017). "Falcons Sign QB Simms, Waive WR Scantling". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  37. Conway, Kelsey (September 2, 2017). "2017 Atlanta Falcons Roster Cuts Tracker: Deadline To 53 Is 4 P.M. ET On Saturday". AtlantaFalcons.com. Archived from the original on December 30, 2017.
  38. "Matt Simms: Agrees to injury settlement". CBSSports.com. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  39. Wilson, Ryan (November 27, 2018). "Alliance of American Football QB Draft: Aaron Murray, Christian Hackenberg highlight QBs taken". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  40. "Atlanta Legends lose first game to Spurrier, Orlando". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. February 10, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  41. McFadden, Will (August 3, 2019). "Falcons agree to terms with quarterback Matt Simms". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  42. McFadden, Will (August 31, 2019). "Falcons 2019 roster announced". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  43. @AlbertBreer (August 16, 2020). "Today's tryout/visit list" (Tweet). Retrieved August 21, 2020 – via Twitter.
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