Bears’ Ryan Poles Pursued Jeffery Simmons Over Time; Expects DT To Play Monday

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles pursued defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons over multiple weeks before finalizing a trade with the Tennessee Titans. Poles expects Simmons to make his debut against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, though the final decision remains with the coaching staff. The deal reunites Simmons with former college teammate Montez Sweat as Chicago aims to strengthen its defense amid a 5-2 start.

The trade was facilitated by a 19-year relationship between Poles and Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi, which began at Boston College and continued with the Kansas City Chiefs. While Chicago sought an elite defensive interior presence for a Super Bowl push, Tennessee agreed to the trade after determining that the return package could accelerate its rebuilding process.