It's barely been two weeks since the Chicago Bears traded for four-time Pro Bowler Jeffery Simmons, and it's already looking like general manager Ryan Poles' best move ever. Still, it's not just because Simmons is putting up crazy stats.
The Bears traded two first-round picks and another Day 3 pick to land Simmons. That deal has paid off big for Chicago, as they have won both games with him in the starting lineup.
Now entering the bye week at 7-2, the Bears feel much better about their defense heading into the second half of the season. A big reason for that success, though, is the work that Simmons is doing not only as an individual but as a teammate.
Jeffery Simmons' dominance through two games as a Bear
Simmons came out guns blazing in his first game as a Bear, helping Chicago win 34-17 over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8. He finished with six tackles, two tackles for loss, two pressures, one sack, one quarterback hit, and one pass deflection.
Things were just as good for Simmons in the 27-24 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. He racked up four tackles, two pressures, one pass deflection, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, and one sack.
In total, that is 10 tackles, four pressures, three tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hits, and two pass deflections in two games. That's about as impressive a first impression as a defensive tackle can have on a team.
Many people initially thought giving up two first-round picks for a defensive tackle was too high a price, but that hasn't been the case. Simmons has been worth it for everything he is doing on his own.
This Bears team was middle of the road in the pass rush, but Simmons has made them a dangerous force on the line. While he's made some incredible individual plays in two games, what isn't showing is the impact he has on himself and the teammates around him.
How Jeffery Simmons has helped other Bears players around him
A prime example of the kind of impact that Simmons is having, which is benefiting his teammates, is linebacker Devin Bush. By the end of the Buccaneers game, Bush finished with a season-high nine tackles, but throughout the game, he got through the offensive line with relative ease. That's because Simmons is attracting double teams, which is opening up opportunities for other guys to shine.
Look at Grady Jarrett and how he played against Tampa Bay. No one thinks of Jarrett as a pass rusher, but he got three pressures, one quarterback hit, and a half-sack. That is a rare feat to see him do that, but that's the Simmons effect at its best.
Simmons' former college teammate, Montez Sweat, has been a key contributor for the team over the last two games. Sweat got a sack in the Seahawks game and got six tackles, two pressures, and one quarterback hit against Tampa Bay.
Heck, Simmons is even helping his secondary a bit just by being there. Jaylon Johnson is coming off the best game of his 2026 campaign against the Buccaneers, allowing a 20% completion percentage and nabbed a pick-six.
Simmons has an aura that gives the Bears' defense confidence no one saw coming. Everyone knew he was a superstar defender, but the team's performance is a testament to the impact Simmons has on it.
Read more: Bears win over Buccaneers proves Ryan Poles' last-minute trade priority
This will only get better for the Bears as Simmons continues to build momentum in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme. This defense has a lot of potential, and the players on that side of the ball will thrive as long as Simmons does.
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