Quinnen Williams: Titans star Jeffery Simmons could be DPOTY under Robert Saleh

Optimism has been fruitful for the Tennessee Titans since hiring Robert Saleh as their new head coach, and one of their former players, a four-time Pro Bowler, believes another four-time Pro Bowler on the Titans will thrive under his new head coach. “Jeffery Simmons could be the defensive player of the year next year,” Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Quinnen Williams told Simmons during the 2025 Pro Bowl Games, according to the Titans team website. “The abilities he has and the things he does well, he’s already a phenomenal player. And now with the coaches around him who are going to help him even more, watch out.” Last season, Simmons totaled 11.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and 67 combined tackles in 15 games, helping Simmons earn his first career All-Pro honor. Simmons, a four-time pitcher and two-time second-team All-Pro who spent his entire career at Tennessee (2019-25), was one of the minimal bright spots on a Titans defense that was 28th in the NFL in opposing points (28.1 per game) and 21st in opposing yards (345.1 per game). “I think he’s a phenomenal head coach, a phenomenal defensive-minded coach, and he does things right,” Williams said of Saleh. “It’s going to be great to have him at Tennessee – the players love him, his enthusiasm, his personality, his mindset that he brings to the game. I know Jeff is going to love him. … “I told Jeffery Simmons, having a head coach like Coach Saleh and having a coach like [defensive line coach] A.W. [Aaron Whitecotton] in this room now, it’s phenomenal. [Coach Whitecotton] helped me enormously in my professional development. The things I can do now, the things I do now, a lot of it is because of him and what he taught me. Seeing him with Jeffery Simmons is great to see. » Williams played for Saleh when the latter was head coach of the New York Jets from 2021-2024 and Whitecotton when he was defensive line coach of the Jets from 2021-24 and the Cowboys in 2025; (Whitecotton was a defensive staff assistant and Saleh was the linebackers coach) and on the 49ers in 2020 (Whitecotton was an assistant defensive line coach and Saleh was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator last season in what was his second stint in that role).