Get to know defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs Jason Simmons, including what former Steelers coaches are among his inspiration.
What got you interested in coaching:
"I always said it, and sometimes I denied my passion, but I wanted to coach. I would tell myself, no, I am not going to do that. When I retired from playing, Dom Capers gave me a call and talked me into doing an internship. I did the Bill Walsh internship. I fell in love with it. Before that, I was actually coaching my son's Pop Warner team. And I was coaching a third-grade team way too hard. So I knew the passion was there, but it took that call from Dom to get me into it."
Who was your coaching inspiration:
"I've been around too many great ones who shaped who I am. It started with Dom (Capers), who got me into coaching. Then being drafted by the Steelers and being coached by Bill Cowher. And Mike McCarthy, who I was with in different places before joining him in Pittsburgh. I would also say my coordinator, Nick Fangio in Houston. There was also Tim Lewis with the Steelers. There are so many I can't name them all."
Describe your coaching style:
"I am a teacher. I always have said the best coaches have the ability to teach and not present. So, I've always tried to model myself on being a good teacher, making it easy for the guys to understand and then also looking to inspire those guys."
What do you love about coaching:
"There's nothing better than helping a guy succeed. That's what I like the most. There is nothing better than seeing a guy exceed even what he thought he was capable of doing."
Favorite coaching moment:
"It would have to be coaching my kids. Every opportunity to coach my kids is special to me."
Best advice you have received in coaching:
"The best advice I received came from Johnny Holland. He told me never forget, because nobody's more upset than the player when they make a mistake."
Best advice you give to players
"The best advice I give to the players is optimism is a competitive advantage."
Offseason relaxation/reset:
"I love to sit by the water and read a good book."
More about Jason Simmons:
Jason Simmons, who played for the Steelers, spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons as the defensive pass game coordinator for the Washington Commanders and is entering his 16th season in the NFL. While with the Commanders, the pass defense was ranked third in the NFL in 2024, allowing 189.5 yards per game. Their opponents completed only 61.9% of their passes, ranking fourth in the NFL.
Prior to his time in Washington, Simmons was the defensive backs/pass game coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders for two seasons (2022-23). His unit was responsible for three of the Raiders' five defensive touchdowns in 2023.
Simmons was the pass game coordinator/secondary coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2020-21. Under his guidance, safety Jeremy Chinn was named to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie team in 2020, leading all rookies with 116 tackles, while also winning Defensive Rookie of the Month honors twice.
He got his start in coaching in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers under Coach Mike McCarthy, spending nine seasons with the team.
He spent four seasons as a coaching administrator (2011-14), before being the assistant special teams coach for three seasons (2015-17). Simmons was the secondary coach in 2018, and the defensive backs coach in 2019.
Simmons was drafted by the Steelers in the fifth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Steelers, before signing with the Houston Texans in 2002, where he spent six seasons.
Simmons appeared in 212 games in his career, recorded 186 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two sacks and two interceptions/
