In five seasons with Mike Vrabel as his head coach on the Tennessee Titans, Jeffery Simmons became a Pro Bowl defensive lineman who was part of three playoff teams, two AFC South winning teams and one run to the AFC Championship game.
In 2025, however, Simmons was part of another three-game winning streak for the Titans, watching from afar as his former head coach led the New England Patriots from last place to a Super Bowl berth.
How was it for Simmons? Well, he was admittedly amazed – and very jealous.
– Was I surprised? Simmons responded on a recent episode of Terron Armstead’s “The Set” podcast. “Um, man, I think we’d all be surprised if this guy, first year in New England, went straight to the Super Bowl. First of all, I’m jealous. Like what? … I was only with you for four years and you couldn’t get me to the Super Bowl?”
What the Patriots did in one season under Vrabel was certainly magical, as the former New England Super Bowl-winning linebacker returned to the Patriots and the sideline after his departure from Tennessee in 2024 with remarkable results.
Since Vrabel and the Titans parted ways, Tennessee has lost back-to-back (three straight, including Vrabel’s final season with the team) by a combined six wins. The 2025 Patriots picked up their sixth win of the season in Week 8 en route to their first AFC title since 2019 en route to the club’s first Super Bowl berth since the 2018 campaign.
As jealous as Simmons could be, the four-time Pro Bowler was quick to praise Vrabel, his admiration for his former coach still very evident.
“One of those things when you build that relationship off the football field and I … think that’s the biggest thing with Vrabel, man,” the 2025 All-Pro said. “And I feel it, it’s the same [new Titans coach Robert] Saleh. When you can build a relationship with your players off the football field and not just when you touch that football field, they will play as hard as they can for you. That’s what Vrabel brings, bro. He just brings this energy and like, I know I’m not your daddy but I’m going to do everything possible to make you feel safe with me. I’ll do everything I can do, because on game day I’ll need you.”
Saleh has taken over a Titans team that struggled during a 3-14 2025 season with a 28th-ranked defense.i.e in scoring and the offense was 30i.e. As it turns out, the 2026 Titans share some eyebrow-raising similarities with the 2025 Patriots.
Vrabel took over a New England team that had consecutive 4-13 seasons.
Saleh is taking over a team from Tennessee that has had two consecutive 3-14 years.
Vrabel returned to the sidelines after a one-year hiatus as head coach to take over for fired first-year coach Jerod Mayo.
Saleh is returning to the head coaching ranks after a one-year hiatus to replace fired rookie head coach Brian Callahan.
In 2024, the Patriots offense was 30thi.e in scoring and 31St in meters.
In 2025, the Titans were broken 30i.e in scoring and 31St in meters.
These teams saw heralded rookie quarterbacks start the majority of games: Drake Maye (No. 3 overall in the 2024 draft) for New England; Cam Ward (No. 1 overall in 2025) for Tennessee.
Could Ward post a stellar sophomore season akin to Maye, who was the AP NFL Most Valuable Player sophomore?
Simmons is adamant that the Miami product has the goods.
“I still feel like I have a lot more growing to do in my game. I’m going into year 8, but … the expectations, which we know come with being the No. 1 pick,” Simmons said. “Personally, I see … Cam’s work consistently from every day being the first in the building. That’s, there’s no lie. He’s the first in the building.”
“You could feel and you could tell the will that he really wants to be the best he could be for us. And not just for us, but for himself too.”
Not many predicted the Patriots’ return to the NFL hierarchy last season. Similarly, the Titans aren’t an overwhelming pick for a win-loss revival. Ward also has plenty of doubters, coming off a rookie season.
“He can feel and he can handle the doubt, that everybody continues to doubt him,” Simmons said. “I mean there’s some guys that call him a bust like, you know, it’s fire [that fuels him].”
That fuel could be the catalyst for a comeback season for Ward and the Titans.
“Cam Ward’s 2nd year is going to be what everybody doesn’t expect, but it’s going to be one of those things that Cam, we knew it was you all along,” Simmons said.
2026 is already looking bad for Simmons, who recently agreed to terms on a mammoth extension. With the ascension of Ward and the rise of Saleh, Simmons’ Titans may be in for a season that will make others envious of their exploits.