Simmons played college football at Western Carolina University helping lead the Catamounts to the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship game.
[3] Simmons was selected in the ninth round of the 1986 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles where he spent 8 seasons (1986–1993).
[4] After leaving Philadelphia he went on to play for the Arizona Cardinals (1994–1995), Jacksonville Jaguars (1996–1997), Cincinnati Bengals (1998), and the Chicago Bears (1999–2000).
[6] Simmons also returned an interception for a touchdown against Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills in the 1996 NFL Playoffs.
[8] In 2010, he accepted an offer from Rex Ryan as a fellowship coach with the New York Jets.