Corey Simon

Simon in 2004
No. 90, 97, 96
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born:	(1977-03-02) March 2, 1977 (age 45) Boynton Beach, Florida
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	320 lb (145 kg)
Career information
High school:	Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Florida)
College:	Florida State (1996–1999)
NFL Draft:	2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6
Career history
Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2004) Indianapolis Colts (2005–2006) Tennessee Titans (2007)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLI) Pro Bowl (2003) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2000) BCS National Championship (1999) Consensus All-American (1999) First-team All-ACC (1999)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 246 Sacks: 32.0 Forced fumbles: 9 Fumble recoveries: 3
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Corey Jermaine Simon (born March 2, 1977) is a former American football defensive tackle who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Florida State University (FSU), earned consensus All-American honors, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. The Philadelphia Eagles chose him with the sixth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, and he played professionally for the Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. He was selected to the 2004 Pro Bowl.

Early years

Simon was born in Boynton Beach, Florida.^[1] He attended Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he played for the Ely Mighty Tigers high school football team. As a senior, he was the Miami Herald's defensive player of the year, named to the All-USA squad by USA Today, and a Super Prep Dream Team selection.

College career

Simon accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Florida State University, where he played for coach Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles football team from 1996 to 1999. He was considered to be the most dominating defensive lineman in college football. Following his senior season, Simon was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.^[2] He was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. He ended his career at FSU by helping his team win a BCS National Championship. His 44 tackles behind the line of scrimmage tied the Seminoles' career record set by Ron Simmons.

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the first round (sixth pick overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft, and he played for the Eagles from 2000 until 2004. He started in four NFC Championship games during his six seasons with the Eagles. Philadelphia reached the Super Bowl once during these years, losing Super Bowl XXXIX to the New England Patriots, 24-21. After the 2004 season, the Eagles placed the franchise tag on Simon, which he refused to sign. After contract negotiations failed to produce a long-term deal, the Eagles lifted the franchise tag, making Simon an unrestricted free agent.

Indianapolis Colts

Simon signed with the Indianapolis Colts, for whom he played the entire 2005 season. In 2006, Simon underwent surgery, was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform / Non-Football Injury list during training camp, and did not play in any games. He did not attend Super Bowl XLI with other inactive players. However he was still delivered a ring. He was once coined "the missing piece to the Super Bowl puzzle".

On August 1, 2007, Colts owner Jim Irsay stated that Simon's release from the team was imminent once a settlement could be reached. The team announced Simon's release on Saturday, August 4, 2007.

Tennessee Titans

On August 28, 2007, the Tennessee Titans signed Simon.

NFL statistics

^[3]

Key

• GP: games played
• COMB: combined tackles
• TOTAL: total tackles
• AST: assisted tackles
• SACK: sacks
• FF: forced fumbles
• FR: fumble recoveries
• FR YDS: fumble return yards
• INT: interceptions
• IR YDS: interception return yards
• AVG IR: average interception return
• LNG: longest interception return
• TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
• PD: passes defensed

Retirement

On October 25, 2007, Corey Simon announced that he was retiring from professional football after eight seasons in the NFL because of polyarthritis.^[4] He lives in Centerville, Florida, a northeastern suburb of Tallahassee.^[5]

Political career

On June 13, 2022, Mr. Simon announced his first foray into politics, launching his candidacy for Florida's Third senatorial district, running as a Republican against Democrat Loranne Ausley. Simon has the backing of incoming Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Collier. He hired the same campaign treasurer that Passidomo uses, and his candidacy was immediately endorsed by Sen. Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula who is expected to be Senate President in 2024.