After bouncing between three teams in six years, Isaiah Simmons is banking on the Green Bay Packers being the place where everything finally clicks.
The former eighth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has always had elite physical tools, but consistency, clarity, and usage have been major hurdles throughout his career. Now with the Packers, he’s being asked to do something simple yet foreign: play one position.
And for the first time in his professional career, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
Under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Simmons has been working strictly as an off-ball linebacker — rotating between strongside and weakside spots — giving him a chance to focus, grow, and finally thrive within a system.
“I fully believe in Haf’s plan,” Simmons said recently.
“He’s letting me just lock in and learn a small portion first before we even think about expanding to anything else.”
That kind of structured development is something Simmons never truly had in Arizona or New York, and it might just be the key to unlocking his full potential.
From Frustration to Focus
Simmons knows what it feels like to be stretched thin.
During his three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, he was used all over the field — lining up at nickel, safety, and even defensive line. That pattern continued during his two-year stint with the New York Giants, where he played:
- 166 snaps in the box
- 137 on the defensive line
- 65 in the slot
- 8 at the outside corner
- 2 at free safety
According to Pro Football Focus, Simmons played multiple roles in every season, making it nearly impossible to master any one thing.
But now, with Green Bay, there’s a shift.
“What I ran into most of my career is everybody wants me to do everything, as opposed to letting me get really good at one thing first,” Simmons admitted.
It’s not just a subtle change — it’s a fundamental reset.
Why This Role Could Finally Stick
At 6’4″, 240 pounds, with a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, Simmons is built differently than your typical linebacker. His blend of size, speed, and instincts screams “game-wrecker” — if only someone would give him a defined role.
Enter Jeff Hafley.
With Quay Walker sidelined and Edgerrin Cooper stepping into a leadership role, Simmons has taken first-team reps alongside established players like McKinney and McDuffie.
Linebackers coach Sean Duggan sees what many scouts saw back in 2020:
“You don’t see a lot of 6-4 guys that are 240 pounds that can run a 4.3… He’s got a rare combination of traits.”
Now, he’s finally being given a fair shot to use them.
Learning Curve and Special Teams Impact
Simmons arrived in Green Bay behind the learning curve — a rare veteran newcomer entering a defense that already gelled under Hafley last season.
But instead of trying to do too much too soon, he’s focusing on mastering the playbook and proving himself on special teams.
“He’s made some plays before,” special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said.
“We’re excited about having him here.”
Simmons has played 563 special teams snaps in his career, including a standout play in 2023 when he blocked a field goal by leaping through the A-gap. That kind of hustle could earn him early trust while he earns his way onto the defensive depth chart.
And if history repeats itself — like with De’Vondre Campbell, who thrived once settled at middle linebacker — Simmons could follow a similar path from depth piece to game-changer.
Confidence From Within: McKinney’s Seal of Approval
Before signing Simmons, head coach Matt LaFleur checked in with someone who knew him best: Xavier McKinney, Simmons’ former teammate in New York.
“(McKinney) gave the move two thumbs up,” LaFleur said.
“He vouched for Simmons as a teammate — and that meant a lot to us.”
That internal validation helped solidify Green Bay’s decision to take a low-risk flier on Simmons — and so far, that faith seems justified.
Simmons says McKinney’s belief in him means more than people realize.
“That vote of confidence meant a lot coming from someone like Xavier.”
Simmons’ Mindset: Never Again
Despite the frustration of limited opportunities in New York, Simmons isn’t bitter — he’s motivated.
“They lit a fire under me,” he said of the Giants.
“And I’m ready to go.”
He added:
“There were games where maybe I had, like, three snaps… When the season ended, I looked at myself in the mirror and said, ‘This will never happen again.’”
That mindset has carried him into Green Bay, where he’s determined to make coaches “make the decision tough.”
And with a simplified role, a supportive coaching staff, and a hunger to prove doubters wrong, Simmons may finally be in the right place at the right time.
Final Takeaway: The Packers’ Low-Risk Gamble Could Pay Off Big
Signing Isaiah Simmons wasn’t a flashy move, but it was a smart one.
At just 27 years old, he still has time to develop into a valuable piece for a defense that finished sixth in points and yards allowed per game in 2024.
If Hafley can mold him into a consistent presence at linebacker — and Simmons can build off his special teams experience — the Packers might just find themselves with a hidden gem in their front seven.
Could Simmons become the Packers’ secret weapon?
Only time will tell.
But for the first time in his career, the path forward looks clear.