Jason Simmons is in his first season as the Steelers' defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach in 2026.
Simmons will enter his 16th season in the NFL – including his seventh as a defensive pass game coordinator and 12th coaching defensive backs. He has been an NFL defensive pass game coordinator in each of the last six seasons with stops in Carolina (2020-21), Las Vegas (2022-23) and Washington (2024-25).
In 2025, Washington lost key defenders for a considerable time or the entire season, including defensive ends and secondary contributors – which affected pass rush and coverage alike. Early in the season, Deatrich Wise Jr. and Dorance Armstrong went on Injured/Reserve, as did rookie cornerback Trey Amos and starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore.
Cornerback Mike Sainristil emerged for Commanders in '25, leading the team with four interceptions. His ability to create turnovers was a key bright spot for the secondary and provided the defense with timely takeaways. Sainristil added 12 passes defensed and 77 tackles (46 solo). Safety Jeremy Reaves registered 81 tackles (48 solo), seven passes defensed, five TFL, 1.0 sack and one interception.
Under Simmons in 2024, Washington's pass defense ranked third in the NFL in pass defense (189.5 yards allowed/game). The Commanders had not ranked that high in pass defense since 2020, when they allowed 191.8 yard/game – second-best in the League. Washington's opponents completed just 61.9% of its passes, good for fourth in the NFL. In the Divisional Round against top-seeded Detroit, Washington forced five turnovers, including an interception returned for a TD by safety Quan Martin in a 45-31 win.
Prior to Washington, Simmons was the defensive backs/pass game coordinator for Las Vagas for two seasons (2022-23).
In 2023, cornerback Tre'von Moehrig finished tied for first on the Raiders with a career-high three interceptions. Simmons' unit accounted for three of the defense's five TDs which tied the most with the franchise since 2000. In his first season with the Raiders, 13 defensive backs recorded playing time, tied for the second most in a single season by the team since 2000. Cornerback Amik Robertson had a career year and finished first on the team with nine passes defensed and two interceptions.
From 2020-21, Simmons served as the pass game coordinator/secondary coach for Carolina. In 2020, safety Jeremy Chinn was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after leading all rookies with 116 tackles and becoming the first player in Panthers' history to win two Defensive Rookie of the Month Awards.
Prior to his time in Carolina, Simmons spent nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers serving in a variety of roles such as defensive backs (2019), secondary (2018), assistant special teams (2015-17), and coaching administrator (2011-14). Green Bay's defense recorded 146 total interceptions, tied for the fourth most by any team during Simmons time in Green Bay.
While Simmons served as assistant special teams coach, the Packers ranked second in the league in opponent punt return average (5.7) and yards per punt return (10.7).
A fifth-round selection (137th overall) by the Steelers in the 1998 NFL Draft, Simmons went on to play in 121 games over the ensuing 10 seasons (1998-2007). A defensive back by trade, he made his mark as a standout player on special teams during his career. Simmons amassed 96 career tackles on the coverage units, and it was his consistent play in the third phase that helped him secure a roster spot year after year.
Simmons spent the first four years of his career with Pittsburgh and then went on to sign with Houston in 2002. Over his career, he recorded 186 tackles, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two sacks and two interceptions.
Simmons attended Arizona State University, where he was a four-year letterwinner (1993-97). He was named second-team All-Pacific-10 honors as a senior in 1997. Simmons earned a bachelor's degree in political science.
He and his wife, Tiffany, have three children, Taelyr, Jason Jr. and Jaddan.
