Keith Simons
No. 72, 70
Born:(1954-04-26)April 26, 1954
Ypsilanti, Michigan, U.S.
Died:July 26, 2017(2017-07-26) (aged 63)
St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Defensive tackle
CollegeUniversity of Minnesota
NFL draft1976, Round: 3
Career history
As player
1976–1977Kansas City Chiefs
1978–1979St. Louis Cardinals

Keith Michael Simons (April 26, 1954 – July 26, 2017) was an American football player. He was a defensive tackle who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL).[1] He played college football at the University of Minnesota.[1] He was named to the Associated Press All-Big Ten team in 1975.[2]

Simons was selected by the Chiefs with the 63rd pick in the 3rd round of the 1976 NFL Draft.[1] He made his presence felt in his very first preseason game, when he blocked a field goal attempt in overtime and teammate Emmitt Thomas recovered the ball and returned it for a game winning touchdown.[3] He was placed on the injured reserve list in October after tearing knee ligaments in a game against the Miami Dolphins.[4] Simons played in 6 games for the Chiefs during the regular season in 1976, starting all 6.[1] In 1977, he played in all 16 games for the Chiefs, again starting 6.[1] The Chiefs traded him to the New Orleans Saints before the 1978 season but the Saints cut him before the season started.[5][6] He was signed by the Cardinals in September 1978 and played two seasons for the Cardinals as a backup nose tackle, getting into 29 games.[7][1] The Cardinals released him before the 1980 season.[8] Diagnosed with bladder and lung cancer earlier in the year,[9] he died on July 26, 2017, at the age of 63.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Keith Simons". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  2. ^ "All Big-Ten for Marek, Not Lick". The Milwaukee Journal. December 2, 1975. pp. 2–11. Archived from the original on 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  3. ^ "Chiefs Win Preseason Opener in Spectacular Manner". The Free Lance-Star. August 3, 1976. p. 10. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  4. ^ "Chiefs' Elrod Injured in Locker Room Mishap". The Fort Scott Tribune. October 20, 1976. p. 10. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  5. ^ "Transactions". The Prescott Courier. July 17, 1978. p. 7. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  6. ^ "Sports Transactions". The Sumter Daily Item. August 16, 1978. p. 1B. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  7. ^ "Latin Traded to Rams". The Victoria Advocate. September 12, 1978. p. 5B. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  8. ^ "Transactions". The Prescott Courier. August 14, 1980. p. 11A. Retrieved 2015-09-07.
  9. ^ Erdahl, Kent (January 9, 2017). "Local leader using cancer to learn, help others". kare11.com.
  10. ^ "Keith Simons Obituary". August 16, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
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