Justin Simmons

SIMMONS AT A GLANCE:

• A seventh-year player who is just the fifth safety in Broncos' history to be named a Pro Bowler (2020) and an All-Pro (second-team, 2019, '21) while with the team.
• Played 91 games (81 starts) during his first six seasons with Denver (2016-21), posting 453 tackles (339 solo), 3.5 sacks (28 yds.), 21 interceptions (352 yds., 1TD), 49 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, two blocked field goals, one blocked extra point and 12 special-teams stops.
• Chosen as the Broncos nomination for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for three consecutive years (2019-21) while also becoming the first three-time winner of the Darrent Williams Good Guy Award for (2017, '19-20) as voted on by the team's local media. 
• Selected as the inaugural winner of the Demaryius Thomas Team MVP Award, as voted on by the Denver Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.
• Ranks fifth in Broncos' history among safeties with 21 career interceptions and joins Steve Foley as the only Broncos safeties to accumulate multiple interceptions in each their first six seasons since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.
• Posted at least four interceptions in each of the last three seasons (2019-21), joining Patriots CB J.C. Jackson as the only NFL players to accomplish that feat.
• Recognized as one of two active defensive backs (Kevin Byard, Ten.) to record totals of least 400 tackles and 20 interceptions since 2016.
• Tabbed as the only defender to play 100% of his team's defensive snaps from 2018-20, logging 3,211 consecutive plays in that span. 
• Started all 17 games played in 2021, totaling 80 tackles (60 solo), 1.5 sacks (13 yds.), five interceptions (76 yds.) and 12 passes defensed 
• Totaled career highs in interceptions (5) and interception return yards (90) to go along with 96 tackles (77 solo), nine passes defensed and one fumble recovery in 2020.
• Became the 13th safety since 1991 to record at least 90 tackles (93), four interceptions and 15 passes defensed in a single season in 2019. 
• Registered a career-high 98 tackles (71 solo), three interceptions (8 yds.) and four passes defensed in 16 games played (all starts) in 2018.
• Started all 13 games played during his second NFL season in 2017, totaling 63 tackles (46 solo), one sack (6 yds.), two interceptions (65 yds., TD) and five passes defensed. 
• Played 13 games (3 starts) during his rookie season in 2016, recording 24 tackles (20 solo), one sack ( 9 yds.), two interceptions (83 yds.), and four passes defensed. 
• Opened 32-of-50 career games at Boston College, posting 229 tackles (165 solo), eight interceptions (50 yds.), 22 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one sack (15 yds.).
• Attended Martin County High School in Stuart, Fla., earning All-Area Defensive Player of the Year honors in addition to being named second-team All-Florida.
• Selected by the Broncos in the third round (98th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.

SIMMONS AT A GLANCE:

• A seventh-year player who is just the fifth safety in Broncos' history to be named a Pro Bowler (2020) and an All-Pro (second-team, 2019, '21) while with the team.
• Played 91 games (81 starts) during his first six seasons with Denver (2016-21), posting 453 tackles (339 solo), 3.5 sacks (28 yds.), 21 interceptions (352 yds., 1TD), 49 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, two blocked field goals, one blocked extra point and 12 special-teams stops.
• Chosen as the Broncos nomination for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award for three consecutive years (2019-21) while also becoming the first three-time winner of the Darrent Williams Good Guy Award for (2017, '19-20) as voted on by the team's local media. 
• Selected as the inaugural winner of the Demaryius Thomas Team MVP Award, as voted on by the Denver Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.
• Ranks fifth in Broncos' history among safeties with 21 career interceptions and joins Steve Foley as the only Broncos safeties to accumulate multiple interceptions in each their first six seasons since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger.
• Posted at least four interceptions in each of the last three seasons (2019-21), joining Patriots CB J.C. Jackson as the only NFL players to accomplish that feat.
• Recognized as one of two active defensive backs (Kevin Byard, Ten.) to record totals of least 400 tackles and 20 interceptions since 2016.
• Tabbed as the only defender to play 100% of his team's defensive snaps from 2018-20, logging 3,211 consecutive plays in that span. 
• Started all 17 games played in 2021, totaling 80 tackles (60 solo), 1.5 sacks (13 yds.), five interceptions (76 yds.) and 12 passes defensed 
• Totaled career highs in interceptions (5) and interception return yards (90) to go along with 96 tackles (77 solo), nine passes defensed and one fumble recovery in 2020.
• Became the 13th safety since 1991 to record at least 90 tackles (93), four interceptions and 15 passes defensed in a single season in 2019. 
• Registered a career-high 98 tackles (71 solo), three interceptions (8 yds.) and four passes defensed in 16 games played (all starts) in 2018.
• Started all 13 games played during his second NFL season in 2017, totaling 63 tackles (46 solo), one sack (6 yds.), two interceptions (65 yds., TD) and five passes defensed. 
• Played 13 games (3 starts) during his rookie season in 2016, recording 24 tackles (20 solo), one sack ( 9 yds.), two interceptions (83 yds.), and four passes defensed. 
• Opened 32-of-50 career games at Boston College, posting 229 tackles (165 solo), eight interceptions (50 yds.), 22 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one sack (15 yds.).
• Attended Martin County High School in Stuart, Fla., earning All-Area Defensive Player of the Year honors in addition to being named second-team All-Florida.
• Selected by the Broncos in the third round (98th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Signed by Denver as a draft choice 5/13/16.

2021: Simmons started all 17 games played, totaling 80 tackles (60 solo), 1.5 sacks (13 yds.), five interceptions (76 yds.) and 12 passes defensed... Tied for the team lead in tackles and recorded six solo defensive stops at NYG (9/12)... Registered his 17th career interception (35 yds.) and added two tackles (1 solo) and one pass defensed vs. NYJ (9/26)... Recorded his 12th career game with multiple passes defensed (2) and added a season-high eight tackles (6 solo) vs. Bal. (10/3)... Tied for the team lead in tackles, posting eight defensive stops (5 solo) at Pit. (10/10)... Totaled five tackles (3 solo) and one pass defensed at Cle. (10/21)... Registered his first career multi-interception game, recording two interceptions (24 yds.) to go along with two passes defensed and seven solo tackles vs. Was. (10/31)... Collected two passes defensed for the second consecutive game and added two solo tackles at Dal. (11/7)... Recorded six tackles (4 solo) and tallied his 20th career interception (17 yds.) vs. Phi. (11/14)...Tied season high with eight tackles (7 solo) and added two passes defensed vs. LAC (11/28)... Recorded one pass defensed and had six tackles (5 solo) vs. Det. (12/12)... Tallied a career-high 1.5 sacks (13 yds.) and collected four tackles (2 solo) vs. Cin. (12/19).

2020: Simmons, who started all 16 games for the third consecutive season, set career highs in interceptions (5) and interception return yards (90) to go with 96 tackles (77 solo), nine passes defensed and a fumble recovery... Tied for fourth (Quandre Diggs, Sea.; Harrison Smith, Min.) among all defensive backs with five interceptions in 2020... Collected eight tackles (7 solo), two passes defensed and an interception (37 yds.) at Pit. (9/20)... Added eight tackles (7 solo) vs. T.B. (9/27)... Collected first career fumble recovery and added eight tackles (all solo) at N.E. (10/18)... Nabbed second interception of the season (46 yds.) and added five tackles (4 solo) and a pass defensed vs. LAC (11/1)... Posted third interception of the campaign and added five tackles (4 solo) and two passes defensed at Atl. (11/8)... Registered a season-high nine tackles (5 solo) at L.V. (11/15)... Led the team in tackles with seven stops (6 solo), had two passes defensed and registered his 15th career interception vs. Mia (11/22)... Tied for the team lead in tackles and had seven defensive stops (all solo) at Car. (12/13)... Posted two passes defensed and tallied his 16th career interception vs. L.V. (1/3), surpassing former Bronco Deltha O'Neal for the second-most interceptions by a player through his first five seasons with the team.

2019: Simmons was named a second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press after posting 93 tackles (65 solo), four interceptions (30 yds.) and 15 passes defensed... Tied for second on the team with 93 tackles... Became the 13th safety since 1991 to record at least 90 tackles, four interceptions and 15 passes defensed... Was one of five defensive players to play 100 percent (1,049 snaps) of their team's' defensive snaps... Totaled nine tackles (8 solo) and two passes defensed vs. Chi. (9/15)... Collected seven tackles (4 solo) and two passes defensed against Jac. (9/29)... Registered four tackles (2 solo), one interception (17 yds.) and one pass defensed at LAC (10/6)... Picked off Marcus Mariota (5 yds.) and added four solo tackles vs. Ten. (10/13)... Tallied eight tackles (7 solo) and two passes defensed vs. K.C. (10/17)... Recorded seven tackles (5 solo) and one pass defensed at Ind. (10/27)... Collected eight tackles (6 solo) vs. Cle. (11/3)... Notched eight tackles (7 solo), one pass defensed and one interception (8 yds.) at Buf. (11/24)... Made six tackles (2 solo) and recorded three passes defensed at Hou. (12/8)... Tallied eight tackles (6 solo) and one interception at K.C. (12/15)... Posted four tackles (2 solo) and one pass defensed vs. Oak. (12/29).

2018: Simmons started all 16 games and ranked second on the team with 97 tackles (71 solo) to go along with three interceptions and four passes defensed... Was one of three players in the NFL to start 100 percent of his team's defensive snaps... Intercepted Russell Wilson in addition to posting four tackles (3 solo) vs. Sea. (9/9)... Led the team with nine tackles (8 solo) vs. Oak. (9/16)... Blocked a field goal and made five solo tackles at Bal. (9/23)... Paced the team with eight tackles (7 solo) vs. K.C. (10/1)... Led the team with seven tackles (4 solo) at NYJ (10/7)... Intercepted Patrick Mahomes in addition to posting five tackles (4 solo) at K.C. (10/28)... Tied for the team lead with 10 tackles (5 solo) and added one pass defensed at LAC (11/18)... Blocked one field goal and posted eight tackles (6 solo) vs. Pit. (11/25)... Intercepted Jeff Driskel (8 yds.) in addition to making nine tackles (7 solo) at Cin. (12/2)... Led the team with seven tackles (4 solo) vs. Cle. (12/15).

2017: Simmons opened all 13 games played before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 14... Finished with 63 tackles (46 solo), one sack (6 yds.), two interceptions (65 yds., TD) and five passes defensed... Recorded six tackles apiece vs. LAC (9/11) and vs. Dal. (9/17)... Intercepted EJ Manuel to seal Denver's victory vs. Oak (10/1)... Led the team with 11 tackles (all solo) and posted two passes defensed vs. NYG (10/15)... Tallied two solo tackles and four special-teams stops at Phi. (11/5)... Tied for the team lead with 10 tackles (6 solo) and sacked Tom Brady (6 yds.) vs. N.E. (11/12)... Intercepted Jay Cutler and returned it 65 yards for a touchdown in addition to finishing with five tackles (3 solo) and two special-teams stops at Mia. (12/3).

2016: Selected by the Broncos in the third round (98th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft, Simmons played 13 games (3 starts) and recorded 24 tackles (20 solo), one sack (9 yds.), two interceptions (83 yds.), four passes defensed, one blocked extra point and five special-teams stops... Posted one solo tackle in his NFL debut vs. Car. (9/8)... Blocked an extra point with 1:22 remaining at N.O. (11/13) that was returned for the game-winning defensive two-point conversion to earn AFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition... Made his first career start and finished with two tackles (1 solo) vs. N.E. (12/18).

COLLEGE: Simmons opened 32-of-50 games at Boston College, racking up 229 tackles (165 solo), eight interceptions (50 yds.), 22 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and one sack (15 yds.)... Started all 12 games at safety for the nation's top-ranked defense (254.3 ypg.) as a senior... Finished with 67 tackles (49 solo), five interceptions (28 yds.), seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, earning All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team honors... Opened all 13 games in his junior campaign, starting the first seven contests at safety before moving to cornerback for the final six games... Led the team with 76 tackles (63 solo) and added two interceptions (20 yds.), seven passes defensed and one sack (15 yds.)... Saw action in all 13 games as a sophomore, recording 34 tackles (22 solo), three passes defensed and one fumble recovery... Appeared in all 12 games as a true-freshman, starting six contests at safety and one at cornerback.

PERSONAL: Simmons attended Martin County High School in Stuart, Fla., where he earned All-Area Defensive Player of the Year honors from Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers... Majored in communications at Boston College and was presented with the Jay McGillis Memorial Scholarship... Selected as the Broncos 2019, '20 and '21 Walter Payton Man of the Year... Selected as Pop Warner's 2021 Inspiration to the Youth Award winner... Chosen as a Broncos Community Ambassador Award winner in 2017 after making 16 community visits, highlighted by his work with children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver... Justin Simmons was born on Nov. 19, 1993 in Manassas, Va.