Paul Bretl | 7/27/2025
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Standing at his locker after the Packers’ first training camp practice, running back Josh Jacobs described linebacker and former top 10 pick Isaiah Simmons as a “unicorn.”
As Jacobs highlighted, Simmons’ combination of speed, versatility, and physicality makes him a very unique player at the linebacker position. Those qualities were all on display during the team’s first training camp practice, which included Simmons fighting through a block and blowing up a screen play to Jacobs in the backfield.
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“Jordan (Love) canned it,” Simmons said of the play. “I thought he checked it away from me when he seen me but just couldn’t really imagine that they would have a wide receiver blocking me. I don’t really plan on no receiver blocking me, for real. When I seen it went that way, it was just full go.”
Then, during the Packers’ second training camp practice, in a move-the-ball period with the second team defense, Malik Willis dropped back, hit the top of his drop, turned to his right, and immediately let the ball go. But close by was Simmons, who got his hand on the pass, deflecting it to Carrington Valentine for the interception.
Versatility is one of the calling cards of Simmons’ game, and as Simmons described during OTAs, it’s a bit of a “gift and a curse.”
During his five NFL seasons, Simmons has played 583 snaps along the defensive line, 1,325 as a box defender, 796 snaps in the slot, along with 70 at safety and 82 at outside cornerback, according to PFF.
However, a free agent this past offseason, what drew Simmons to the Packers wasn’t all the creative ways that Jeff Hafley was going to utilize him or all the different roles that he could potentially fill within the Green Bay defense. Instead, what attracted Simmons to the Packers was that he was going to have one job–playing linebacker.
“I feel like it’s been beneficial to me so far,” Simmons said. “Just allowing me to really learn one thing, opposed to learning this today, something else tomorrow and who knows the next day. I’m really appreciative of that.”
As the No. 8 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Simmons’ career up to this point hasn’t played out how one would hope for a top 10 pick. But despite the up-and-down play at times and sporadic opportunities, Simmons has been able to put up some numbers. He’s compiled over 300 total tackles in his career, has held opponents to under 10 yards per reception, has recorded 44 pressures, and has five interceptions, along with 10 pass breakups.
“There’s a reason he was a top 10 pick,” Matt LaFleur said. “He’s got all the measurables, and it’s just getting him acclimated with our system and knowing what he can do and try to put him in some advantageous positions where he can really showcase his talent.”
Within the Packers’ defense, Simmons has been tasked with filling the SAM linebacker role in Hafley’s 4-3 defense. With Quay Walker on the PUP list, Simmons has been the third linebacker with the starting defense when the Packers are in their base look, alongside Isaiah McDuffie and Edgerrin Cooper.
With the second unit, he has continued to fill the SAM linebacker role when in base, and has been the nickel linebacker as well, along with Ty’Ron Hopper.
“Speed, just my length, everything,” Simmons said about his game. “I’m just not the build of a typical linebacker so there’s times where my length can help me with getting off blocks or my speed and my agility because (I can) out-athletic a guy as well. I feel like I kind of bring both just with my length and my power as well as my speed and agility.”
From offseason programs to training camp, Jacobs believes that Simmons is already playing faster as he gets acclimated and more comfortable with Hafley’s defensive scheme.
How exactly Simmons fits into the linebacker unit, particularly once Walker is back on the field, is likely still to be determined. But with his unique skill set and Hafley’s creativity, the opportunity to carve out a role and make an impact very much exists, and is something we’ve already seen early on in training camp.
“Man I think we got a helluva room,” Simmons said of the linebackers. “I think we have a really good chance to be one of the top linebacker groups in all the NFL. Everybody comes ready to work every day and we all push each other, and the next guy pushes you to be even better, because if you don’t, then you’ll fall behind and you will see a difference. I really appreciate this group, just from the classroom to the field. Everybody comes to work every day.”