Simonetti was a standout as a fullback at his Ohio high school before switching to tackle while at the University of Tennessee in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

[1] The team finished the 1940 season with an 8–2 win–loss record and advanced to the Sugar Bowl on New Year's Day in 1941, losing 19–13 to Boston College.

[1] Brickels, Simonetti's old high school coach, in 1945 became an assistant for the Cleveland Browns, a new team in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC).

[1] Simonetti joined the Browns when the team started play in 1946, but was a reserve and did not appear in any games during the regular season.

[3][4] Cleveland head coach Paul Brown got permission from the league to use Simonetti in the game as Daniell's replacement.