Darrin Simmons (born April 9, 1973) is an American football

coach Coach may refer to: Guidance/instruction * Coach (sport), a director of athletes' training and activities * Coaching, the practice of guiding an individual through a process ** Acting coach, a teacher who trains performers Transportation * Co ...

who is the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for the

Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The c ...

of the National Football League (NFL). He has coached for the Bengals since 2003. He previously had coaching stints in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens and Carolina Panthers. He was a punter in college at the University of Kansas.

Playing career

Dodge City CC

Simmons played punter at Dodge City Community College from 1991 to 1992. In 1992 at Dodge City, he led the nation in punting and was a second-team NJCAA All-American.

Kansas

Simmons then transferred to Kansas (KU) where he played from 1993 to 1995, earning All- Big Eight honors his final year. As a senior, he helped the Jayhawks to a Top-10 national ranking and to an Aloha Bowl victory over UCLA. Also as a senior at KU, he won honors as an Academic All-American.

Coaching career

Early jobs

Simmons began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Kansas in 1996, where he would serve in that position for a single season. The following year, he became the graduate assistant at the University of Minnesota, serving for a single season as well. In 1999, he got his first NFL coaching position as the Assistant special teams coordinator and Assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Baltimore Ravens with his uncle, Jerry Simmons. He held the position for one season.

Carolina Panthers

Simmons was hired in 1999 by the Carolina Panthers following his uncle, Jerry. Panthers punter Todd Sauerbrun was named All-Pro two of the four seasons he coached the Panthers.

Cincinnati Bengals

Simmons was hired by the

as their special teams coach in 2003. In 2005, Bengals kicker Shayne Graham was named All-Pro. That season the Bengals, due in part to Graham and Simmons work with the kicker, the Bengals made the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. In 2014, Bengals punter

Kevin Huber Kevin Huber (born July 16, 1985) is an American football punter who is a free agent. He played college football at Cincinnati, where he was a two-time consensus All-American, before being drafted by the Bengals in the fifth round of the 2009 N ...

was named to the Pro Bowl. Huber was the second punter and third special teamer overall to make the Pro Bowl that was coached by Simmons. In 2020, he was promoted to Assistant Head Coach, in addition to his special teams coordinator role. In 2021, Bengals rookie kicker Evan McPherson led the NFL in 50-plus yard field goals made with 9. McPherson would also make a game-winning field goal in overtime to lead the Bengals to

Super Bowl LVI Super Bowl LVI was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2021 season. The National Football Conference (NFC) champion Los Angeles Rams defeated the American Football Conference ...

, the team's first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years. The Super Bowl appearance was also the first of Simmons coaching career. The Bengals would lose the game 20–23.

Personal life

Simmons is married with one daughter and two sons. His uncle, Jerry Simmons, was an NFL strength and conditioning coach for 23 seasons. They worked together at the Baltimore Ravens in 1998 and the Carolina Panthers from 1999 to 2002.

References

External links

Cincinnati Bengals bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simmons, Darrin 1973 births Living people American football punters Kansas Jayhawks football coaches Kansas Jayhawks football players Minnesota Golden Gophers football coaches Baltimore Ravens coaches Carolina Panthers coaches Cincinnati Bengals coaches People from Elkhart, Kansas Players of American football from Kansas Dodge City Conquistadors football players