Jeffery Simmons and Montez Sweat Reunite: Bears' Blockbuster Trade Pays Off in First Game Together

The Chicago Bears paid a steep price to put Jeffery Simmons next to Montez Sweat. In their first game together, the two former Mississippi State teammates showed why. Simmons and Sweat each had a sack as the Bears beat the defending champion Seattle Seahawks 34-17 on Monday Night Football, harassing Sam Darnold all night.

Chicago improved to 6-2. Seattle fell to 4-4, according to NBC Sports.

The Jeffery Simmons trade: what the Bears gave up

The Bears announced the deal on Thursday, Oct. 29. They sent the Tennessee Titans a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick, and they get a 2028 fifth-round pick back from Tennessee, according to the team.

NFL.com said the move showed the Bears are “going all-in” on a Super Bowl run this season, giving up their next two first-round picks for one of the league’s best interior defenders.

“We are fortunate to have the opportunity to add a player, and a human, like Jeffery to our team,” general manager Ryan Poles said in the team’s announcement. Head coach Ben Johnson called Simmons “one of the most impactful run defenders and disruptive pass-rushers in the NFL.”

Jeffery Simmons’ contract

Simmons arrives on a big deal. NFL.com reported that the Titans signed him in June to a three-year, $105.8 million extension that included $100 million in guaranteed money. He was a first-team AP All-Pro in 2025 after posting career highs of 11 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, both the most among interior defensive linemen, per the Bears.

Montez Sweat’s comeback week

The timing mattered for Sweat, too. He had just returned from a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy, NFL.com reported, and the Bears said the commissioner lifted the suspension before the Seattle game.

Sweat said he took a banned substance unintentionally and called the time away “devastating,” according to NFL.com. He declined to say what he took but said he, not his nutrition staff, was responsible.

NFL.com noted that Simmons joined a defensive front that was eager to get Sweat back and also includes veteran Grady Jarrett.

How Simmons and Sweat played vs. Seattle

Simmons led the Bears with six tackles and added a sack, two tackles for loss and a pass defensed, NBC Sports reported. Sweat had a sack and three quarterback hits, per NBC Sports.

Together, the pass rush made life hard for Darnold:

• Darnold was sacked three times and hit six times.
• Seattle went 1-for-11 on third down.
• The Seahawks had five three-and-outs and were held to 252 total yards.
• Darnold finished 17-of-34 for 188 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

NBC Sports wrote that Darnold “never seemed comfortable” against Simmons, Sweat and Dennis Allen’s defense.

Why the pairing matters

Simmons and Sweat were both first-round picks in 2019 after playing together at Mississippi State. Before the trade, NFL.com said Chicago’s front “clearly lacked top-end punch” compared with other contenders. Simmons had 28 pressures entering Week 8, the most among defensive tackles, per Next Gen Stats cited by NFL.com, along with 21 run stops.

With an edge rusher in Sweat and an interior disruptor in Simmons, the Bears now have the type of front they were missing.

FAQ