Upon Sherk's return to the lineup, Sims played as a backup until he was released by the team after the 1979 season.
He also was a part-time police officer at Cuyahoga Community College's West Campus in Parma.
He was serving on the job at Tri-C when he died June 7, 2006, of a heart attack.
Sims also was a longtime deacon at Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland.
Sims' son Rob Jr., a former standout football player at Nordonia High School and The Ohio State University, followed his father to the NFL when he was drafted in April 2006 as a guard by the Seattle Seahawks.