CHICAGO -- The Bears made a seismic move Thursday to bolster their defensive front, acquiring All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons from the Tennessee Titans, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The Titans (1-6) are receiving 2027 and 2028 first-round picks, plus a 2027 fourth-round pick, from the Bears (5-2) for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick, the sources said.
Simmons is the first defensive tackle in the common draft era (since 1967) to be traded for multiple first-round draft picks, according to ESPN Research.
Simmons, 29, has spent his entire NFL career with the Titans after being drafted in the first round in 2019. Over eight seasons, Simmons has tallied 46.5 sacks, 72 tackles for loss and 96 quarterback hits.
He was a first-team All-Pro last season, when he posted a career-best 11 sacks.
Simmons was elected Titans team captain for his sixth consecutive season in September. His four sacks, six tackles for loss and four passes defended all lead the team this season through seven games.
His addition immediately upgrades a Bears defensive line that has struggled to generate pressure up front since Dennis Allen was hired as defensive coordinator in 2025.
The Bears' standard pass rush (four or fewer pass rushers) has produced a 25% pressure rate over the past two seasons, which is the fourth lowest by any defense in that time, after the 49ers (22%), Panthers (23%) and Raiders (25%).
Chicago's defense ranks 23rd in pass rush win rate from interior defenders this season (13%, per ESPN Analytics/NFL Next Gen Stats). Simmons has a 27% pass rush win rate as a defensive tackle, the highest rate in the NFL in 2026.
Trading Simmons, who played 86.6% of the defensive snaps, leaves a huge hole along the interior of Tennessee's defense. The Titans will turn to a rotation starting with veterans Solomon Thomas and John Franklin-Myers to play defensive tackle in Simmons' place.
This is arguably the most aggressive trade executed by Ryan Poles during his tenure as the Bears' general manager. While Poles notably changed the trajectory of the franchise in 2023 when he sent the first overall pick to Carolina for wide receiver DJ Moore and four draft picks, one of which was used to select quarterback Caleb Williams at the top of the 2024 draft, the GM had never traded multiple first-round selections.
The Titans and Simmons agreed to a three-year $105.8 million contract extension (including $100 million guaranteed) before the start of the season that put him under contract through the 2030 season. After Tennessee stumbled to a 1-6 start, though, Simmons' name became the subject of trade discussion ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.
On Wednesday, Simmons told reporters he did not have an indication that he could soon be on the move.
"Each and every day I wake up, my goal is to be where my feet are at," Simmons said. "I'm never looking ahead, just being in the moment each and every day. I don't worry about the things that I can't control. Those types of things are also a distraction -- that's a lot of fans and outside media. I haven't heard anything from my agent; I haven't heard anything from this organization. As far as I know, I am going to be here."
Now, Simmons will reunite with Bears defensive end Montez Sweat, with whom he played collegiately at Mississippi State.
ESPN's Turron Davenport contributed to this report.