Clyde Simmons
Clyde Simmons Jr. is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League who played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, and the Chicago Bears. He graduated from Western Carolina University, and played in the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship game.
He led the NFL with 19 sacks in 1992 and finished his career 11th all time on the NFL sack list, with 121.5. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1991 and 1992. Simmons also returned an interception for a touchdown against Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills in the 1996 NFL Playoffs.Post-playing career
Simmons worked for a mortgage company and spent some time as a probation officer. In 2010, he accepted an offer from Rex Ryan as a fellowship coach with the New York Jets.
Simmons was the assistant defensive line coach for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams. The Rams had 217 total sacks during Simmons' tenure. With the Rams, Simmons coached three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and the 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald, and defensive end Robert Quinn, who set a single-season franchise record with 19 sacks in 2013. In January 2017, he was hired by the Cleveland Browns to coach their defensive line.
