John Harbaugh Called Titans Owner in Bid to Land Jeffery Simmons

4 minutes ago

3 min read

Published Oct 31, 2026, 10:11 AM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi

Key points

John Harbaugh called Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk directly to try to trade for Jeffery Simmons, The Athletic's Jonathan Jones reported.
Tennessee said no, then sent Simmons to Chicago for two first-round picks and a fourth.
The Giants still need defensive tackle help before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.

John Harbaugh wanted Jeffery Simmons badly enough to skip the usual chain of command. The Giants coach called the Titans' owner himself. The miss leaves New York still hunting for a defensive tackle with the deadline 10 days away.

Harbaugh called Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk to try to trade for the All-Pro, Jonathan Jones reported for The Athletic, as we shared on X Saturday.

It did not work. Chicago made the deal for Simmons on Thursday instead.

How John Harbaugh's Call Played Out

General manager Joe Schoen had already asked Titans GM Mike Borgonzi about Simmons and was told he was not available, according to Jones. Harbaugh then went to Strunk and got the same answer.

Strunk has empowered Borgonzi to run football decisions, Jones reported. One general manager who heard about the call told Jones it violates a code that top football decision-makers only deal with each other.

The Titans' stance changed fast. After a 1-6 start, Tennessee decided to listen on Simmons, and Bears GM Ryan Poles closed the deal, Giants Wire reported. Poles has known Borgonzi since their days at Boston College.

By the Numbers: What Jeffery Simmons Cost Chicago

Item	Detail
Bears sent	2027 1st, 2027 4th, 2028 1st
Titans sent back	Simmons and a 2028 5th
Simmons' extension	3 years, $105.9 million

Source: Jonathan Jones on X for the trade terms and Giants Wire for the June extension, as of Oct. 31, 2026.

That extension made Simmons the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history, per Giants Wire. Matching two first-round picks would have been hard for the Giants, who lack meaningful mid-round picks in the 2027 draft.

Why the Giants Keep Chasing a Defensive Tackle

The Giants traded Dexter Lawrence to the Bengals in the offseason. Since then, interior help has been at the top of their wish list. Art Stapleton expects a defensive tackle to be the priority over a running back.

Jordan Schultz also reported the Giants are looking for both a running back and a defensive tackle on the trade market. Simmons and DeForest Buckner are now both off the board.

What's Next for the Giants

The 4-2-1 Giants come out of their bye in first place. Harbaugh has said they can win this division, and Giants Wire expects them to stay active before Nov. 10.

Our Take: Harbaugh Is Trying to Replace Dexter Lawrence

When I saw this report, my first reaction was simple: John Harbaugh wants his Dexter Lawrence. That is what this call was about.

I never wanted Lawrence traded. I said at the time that he helps everyone around him and makes them all better, and I called him a true difference maker.

Simmons would have filled that hole. The Bears paid two first-round picks for him, so the price tells you how rare that kind of player is.

The good news is that the head coach clearly wants to add a real piece.

When the Colts started selling, I said the Giants have to come away with Buckner, Jonathan Taylor or another notable piece. That still applies, even with Simmons and Buckner gone. The next 10 days will show whether Harbaugh finds his tackle somewhere else.

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