Elijah Simmons

TRANSACTIONS:

Originally entered the NFL as a college free agent with the Arizona Cardinals on April 28, 2025.

TRANSACTIONS:

Originally entered the NFL as a college free agent with the Arizona Cardinals on April 28, 2025.

Was waived by the Cardinals on Aug. 27, 2025 and re-signed to their practice squad the next day.

Was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers off of the Arizona Cardinals practice squad on Sept. 17, 2025.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

Has appeared in nine career games for the Buccaneers, logging six tackles (one for loss).

2025 HIGHLIGHTS:

Made his NFL debut in the Week 3 win over the New York Jets, playing 11 defensive snaps.

In Week 4 vs. Philadelphia, played 14-of-57 defensive snaps, recording one tackle (that went for loss). It marked his first career TFL.

Per Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's highest-graded player in Week 4, earning an 89.9 overall grade.

Appeared in a reserve capacity on defense in the Week 5 win at Seattle, logging 11 defensive snaps.

In the Week 6 win over the 49ers, appeared in a reserve capacity on defense, logging nine defensive snaps and tallying one tackle.

Appeared in a reserve capacity on defense in Week 7 at Detroit, playing 12-of-68 defensive snaps.

In the Week 8 win at New Orleans, appeared in a reserve capacity on defense, logging seven snaps.

Appeared in a reserve capacity on defense in Week 10 vs. New England, playing 11-of-61 defensive snaps and recording two tackles.

In Week 11 at Buffalo, appeared on four defensive snaps.

Was inactive for Weeks 12-16.

In Week 17 at Miami, played 13-of-55 defensive snaps and recorded two tackles.

Was inactive for Week 18.

COLLEGE:

Played collegiately at the University of Tennessee (2019-24), appearing in 55 combined games (eight starts), totaling 59 career tackles, 7 tackles for loss and three pass breakups.

During his graduate season in 2024, played in all 13 games with two starts and finished the year with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

In his 2023 redshirt senior season, played in nine games, recording a career high in both tackles (19) and tackles for a loss (3).

As a redshirt junior in 2022, played in 13 games in a reserve role at defensive tackle, notching eight total tackles and one tackle for a loss.

In 2021, started four of the seven contests he played in before his season was limited by injury, accumulating 11 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss.

As a redshirt freshman, made two starts in 10 games played, totaling 10 tackles and one pass breakup for the season.

In 2019, played in three games before redshirting.

PERSONAL:

Attended Pearl-Cohn High School (Nashville, Tenn.) where he won 2018 Region 5-3A Defensive MVP.

Helped Pearl-Cohn win a regional championship in all four years he was in high school.

Won state titles in the shot put (40-10.5) and discus (146-8) at TSSAA Small Class Track & Field Championships as a junior and repeated as state champions in the shot put as a senior.

Appeared on stage with Commissioner Roger Goodell at the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville as one of the city's top high school players.

Grew up singing in choir and was a member of a high school a cappella group called "Fab Five."

Son of Eric Simmons and Stephanie Halliburton.

Majored in Communications Studies