| No. 51 | |
| Linebacker | |
| Personal information | |
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| Date of birth: June 20, 1976 Spartanburg, South Carolina |
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| Career information | |
| College: Clemson | |
| NFL Draft: 1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15 | |
| Debuted in 1998 for the Seattle Seahawks | |
| Last played in 2004 for the Seattle Seahawks | |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Anthony Lamont Simmons (born on June 20, 1976 in Spartanburg, South Carolina) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at Clemson.
He also had a short-lived stint with the New Orleans Saints.
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Simmons attended Spartanburg High School where he helped lead them to their first of three straight state championships. Also played alongside two other future Clemson football players Brian Wofford and Harold Means.
In his freshman year at Clemson University in 1995, Simmons earned the starting job at inside linebacker after just five days of practice. He finished the season with 150 tackles, and became the first defensive player ever to be named UPI's national freshman of the year. He also received All-ACC honors.
As a sophomore, Simmons set the Tigers' record for tackles in a season (178) en route to being named All-America, and earning another All-ACC nomination.
Simmons became one of the premier players in the nation as a junior. He led both Clemson and the ACC in tackles (158) and tackles for loss (25) en route to a third-consecutive First-Team All-ACC season. He also led the Tigers in sacks (8).
Simmons ran a 4.28 and a 4.34 forty-yard dash for scout Larry Greenlee.[1] His speed was part of the reason Simmons was selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He led the Seahawks in tackles in 2000, 2001, and 2003. He was released by the Seahawks after the 2004 season and sat out 2005 due to injury. He then signed with the New Orleans Saints before the 2006 season but ended up retiring before the season started. He finished his career with 591 tackles (455 solo), 10 sacks, 34.5 tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 27 pass deflections, nine interceptions for 131 yards, and two touchdowns in just 87 games.
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