1. Chris Simms was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2003 NFL draft after playing college football for the Texas Longhorns.
51 Facts About Chris Simms
1. 2.
Chris Simms is the son of former New York Giants quarterback and Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms and the older brother of quarterback Matt Simms.
3.
Chris Simms grew up in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey and attended Ramapo High School, where he was a standout in both football and basketball.
4.
Chris Simms played college football at the University of Texas at Austin from 1999 to 2002.
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Chris Simms spent his freshman year as the backup to Major Applewhite, and saw limited playing time until the end of the season.
6.
Chris Simms took over again during the Cotton Bowl, when Applewhite suffered a knee injury in the 4th quarter.
7.
The next season Applewhite was again the starter, but Chris Simms was more of a co-quarterback than a backup.
8.
Chris Simms struggled early and Applewhite got the majority of the snaps in what turned out to be a rout resulting in Applewhite regaining the role as starter.
9.
Chris Simms was responsible for four turnovers in the first half of play.
10.
Applewhite's strong play, combined with Chris Simms' injury, resulted in Chris Simms sitting out the 2001 Holiday Bowl.
11.
Chris Simms was the starter all season, and he threw for a career-high 3,207 yards, 2nd to only Applewhite at the time.
12.
Texas led in that game until the 4th quarter, when a 3rd Chris Simms interception set up Oklahoma's winning touchdown.
13.
Chris Simms played in the 2002 Senior Bowl in which he threw an interception that went for a Senior Bowl record 99-yard return.
14.
Chris Simms was selected with the last pick of the third round in 2003 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the expectation that he would eventually be the successor to Brad Johnson.
15.
Chris Simms was cast third on the Bucs depth chart behind Johnson and former Buccaneers starter Shaun King.
16.
Chris Simms sat his entire rookie year without playing a single snap in the regular season.
17.
In 2004, Chris Simms started the season as the 3rd string quarterback again, this time behind Johnson and former Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins starter Brian Griese, but quickly advanced to backup quarterback after a poor preseason by Griese.
18.
Chris Simms saw his first action on September 19,2004, against the Seattle Seahawks after a below-average performance by Johnson, coming into the game with 10:32 left in the 2nd quarter.
19.
Chris Simms saw occasional action as the backup QB to Griese and started a meaningless final game against the Arizona Cardinals where he threw for 224 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions.
20.
In 2005, Chris Simms was slated on the depth chart as the backup quarterback, behind Brian Griese and ahead of former Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Luke McCown.
21.
Chris Simms got his first snap of the season after Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas was pushed onto Griese's leg with several minutes left in the game on October 16,2005.
22.
Chris Simms performed well, completing 6 of 10 passes for 69 yards.
23.
Chris Simms got his first start of the season the following week against a weak San Francisco 49ers squad.
24.
Chris Simms followed up this performance with about the same performance against the division rival Carolina Panthers, who were considered a much better team than San Francisco.
25.
Chris Simms led fourth-quarter charges against fellow division rival Atlanta twice, as well as the Washington Redskins.
26.
Chris Simms had a much more impressive performance in the rematch against the Carolina Panthers on the road.
27.
Chris Simms led the Buccaneers to their first playoff berth since their Super Bowl victory in the 2002 season.
28.
Chris Simms suffered a season-ending injury in Game 3 of the 2006 schedule.
29.
Chris Simms returned to the game and even led a successful scoring drive, but remained in physical distress and was taken to a nearby hospital after the game.
30.
Tests revealed a ruptured spleen, and Chris Simms immediately underwent emergency surgery.
31.
On December 27,2006, Chris Simms announced that he had signed a two-year extension to remain with the Buccaneers with the expectation that he would start.
32.
However, due to complications from his recovery and the performance of Jeff Garcia in mini-camp, Chris Simms was expected to serve as a backup to Garcia.
33.
Chris Simms attributed his lack of playing time to how Gruden treated him during his recovery from the spleen injury.
34.
Chris Simms has even said that "The relationship between me and coach Gruden, it's broken," Simms said.
35.
Chris Simms worked out with the Baltimore Ravens during the preseason but was not signed.
36.
Chris Simms signed with the Tennessee Titans on September 9,2008, after starter Vince Young was sidelined with a sprained MCL.
37.
On March 4,2009, Chris Simms signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Denver Broncos.
38.
The deal included a $1.5 million signing bonus and Chris Simms could have earned an additional $3 million through incentives.
39.
Chris Simms started against the San Diego Chargers on November 22,2009, but was quickly replaced by Orton in the second quarter after going 2 for 4 for only 10 yards.
40.
Chris Simms was released on March 15,2010, after the Broncos traded for Brady Quinn.
41.
On September 4,2010, Chris Simms was cut from the Titans roster.
42.
Chris Simms was not brought back for the 2011 season, nor was he picked up by another team.
43.
Chris Simms was hired as a coaching assistant by the New England Patriots on March 26,2012.
44.
Chris Simms had responsibilities in putting together the scouting report.
45.
On July 22,2013, Chris Simms was included in Fox Sports' commentator lineup for the 2013 college football season.
46.
Chris Simms joined Bleacher Report in February 2014 as an NFL analyst.
47.
From 2014 to 2016, Chris Simms was as a color commentator for the NFL on CBS, joining his father as part of the CBS broadcasting team.
48.
Chris Simms left after the 2016 season to join his father's old employer, NBC Sports, where he is a studio analyst for Notre Dame football and a personality on NBC Sports Radio.
49.
In March 2019, Chris Simms left Bleacher Report to become a full-time employee of NBC working as an analyst for Football Night In America and Notre Dame football, as well as co-host of ProFootballTalk Live.
50.
Chris Simms married Danielle Marie Puleo in August 2004, whom he first met in high school.
51.
Chris Simms was arrested in July 2010 and charged with driving while intoxicated, but was acquitted at trial in May 2011.