The Chicago Bears swung for the fences earlier this week when the team made the trade with the Tennessee Titans to land All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. This is the “Red-level” threat the Bears needed to round this team into a Super Bowl contender and the full impact they’ll get from a player like Simmons will make this trade worth it.

“You do this type of move when you have a combination of an impact player on the grass as well as someone that can enhance your culture as well,” General manager Ryan Poles explained. “I don’t think it can be either-or when you talk about a move this size. You need to have both and that’s what Jeffery does. We believe he’s going to impact us at a high level on the grass but also in the locker room too.”

That two-fold impact is what makes this such a great trade for Chicago because Simmons will help lift this franchise up to the next level in more ways than just his individual on-field impact. He’s a tremendous leader and his presence alone will push the rest of the roster up to his standard.

“I’m excited to know what (head coach Ben Johnson is) doing with his team and what he’s building here,” Simmons said. “I’m just here to try to help build that even more with my leadership. And the main thing is my play. So, it’s whatever I can do. Of course, my goal and my job is to continue to get his message, what he’s trying to build around here and continue to push it in the locker room. . .

“I was messaging with (RB D’Andre) Swift, he was like, ‘We need the real Jeff, the guys know the leadership, and this and that.’ I’m like, let me learn what you guys are doing around here. And that’s just me. I don’t want to step on toes, but I want to make sure I’m preaching the right thing, exactly what (Johnson’s) preaching. And then it’s just like a domino effect.”

Jeffery Simmons’ leadership and standard will help push the rest of the roster in Chicago

I’m not going to say that Ben Johnson’s leadership or accountability was slipping, because it’s clearly not. But, some players needed a motivation boost on this defense, and Simmons’ arrival is the kind of jolt those certain players needed. Simmons is that championship-caliber player that Johnson has been looking for to lead this team. Joe Thuney is that kind of guy on offense, and the Bears hoped to have that kind of guy in Grady Jarrett on defense. But, Simmons is actually that guy.

Simmons’ play is going to speak for itself. He’s a game-wrecker on the interior, even when facing extra attention. And when he gets that extra attention, he’s already setting the early standard for what the expectation is going to be for Jarrett, Montez Sweat, and the rest of the defensive line.

“I told (DL) Grady (Jarrett) today, like, if I’m getting that slide, I expect you to go win. And that’s pretty much what it is. Same with Montez,” Simmons said. “I’m like, if the tackles could hang on me and you can’t get off the ball and go get a free sack, there’s something wrong. And that’s just a Thursday conversation that I’m having with these guys.”

Looking at Jarrett and Sweat specifically, this will be an important thing to watch throughout the rest of this year. The Bears have challenged the defensive line to win their one-on-ones more consistently than they have been (I mean that’s what they get paid a LOT of money to do). And with Simmons now in the equation, those two will have even more one-on-one looks.

No more excuses for Montez Sweat and Grady Jarrett

This was always going to be a pivotal season for Sweat and Jarrett. Simmons’ arrival and the standard he’s already setting will put those two under the microscope even more. Speaking on Sweat’s situation (who’s set to return from a two-game suspension), the Bears are hoping this move to add his former college teammate lights a fire under him.

“He’s locked in, ready to go,” general manager Ryan Poles said of Sweat. “This is one of his guys, and I think he elevates his game being around Jeffery, and that’s our expectation. I think that’s the expectation that he has for himself as well.”

After the 2026 season, Sweat and Jarrett have no more guaranteed money remaining. The same goes for Dayo Odeyingbo. All three have massive cap hits as well. If they want to be on this team in 2027, they’re going to have to prove it over the next few weeks and the Bears are making it as easy as possible for them to shine in those opportunities after bringing Simmons in.

“That’s always my goal. How can I reach all the guys around me in the locker room to not feel like I’m coming off the wrong way, but also this is the standard, and everyone needs to live up to the standard. And I start with myself. I’ll never be the guy to walk into a locker room and say, your fault, your fault. I’m going to look in the mirror first. How could I have done better? But also say, alright guys, this is not to none of our standards of this team, of this defense, so forth. So that’s been my approach, especially the last couple years of trying to make sure I reach the whole locker room but also let guys know the standard is the standard.”