# Matt Simms (American football)
**Matt Simms** is a former [American football](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-football) quarterback who played in the NFL as a backup with the [New York Jets](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-jets) and had stints with the [Atlanta Falcons](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-falcons) after a college career at Louisville and Tennessee. He is a son of former New York Giants quarterback Phil Simms and a brother of analyst and former NFL quarterback Chris Simms.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimmPh00.htm) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/stats/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position and size | Quarterback; 6 ft 3 in, 210 lb[3](https://www.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/) |
| College | Louisville and Tennessee, 2008 through 2011, wearing No. 12; from Franklin Lakes, NJ[4](https://cfbtrack.com/players/238915-matt-simms) |
| College totals | 20 games, 144 of 267 passing (53.9%), 1,818 yards, 8 touchdowns, 9 interceptions[5](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/matt-simms-1.html) |
| NFL playing career | 4 games, 0 starts, all with the New York Jets (2013 and 2014); 19 of 39 for 195 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 61.4 passer rating[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/stats/) |
| Falcons stints | Three stints with Atlanta, including two in 2016 and 2017; an undisclosed injury ended a bid to back up Matt Ryan[6](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/1977801/matt-simms/) |
| Family | Son of Phil Simms; brother of Chris Simms[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimmPh00.htm) |
| Post-playing work | Media personality and personal quarterback trainer[7](https://www.newyorkjets.com/podcast/the-official-jets-podcast-matt-simms-gives-expectations-for-geno-smith-in-2026) |
## College career
Simms began at Louisville, where he appeared in 2 games as a freshman in 2008 and completed 4 of 10 passes for 39 yards with 1 interception.[5](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/matt-simms-1.html) He transferred to Tennessee, where he played from 2010 to 2011. His most extensive season was 2010, when he played 11 games and completed 113 of 195 passes (57.9%) for 1,460 yards with 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, a 129.3 passer rating.[5](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/matt-simms-1.html) In 2011 he played 7 games, completing 27 of 62 passes for 319 yards with no touchdowns and 3 interceptions.[5](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/matt-simms-1.html) His two-year Tennessee line was 140 of 257 (54.5%) for 1,779 yards with 8 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.[5](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/matt-simms-1.html)
## NFL career
Simms's regular-season NFL action came entirely with the New York Jets. In 2013 he appeared in 3 games without a start, completing 16 of 31 passes for 156 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception, and adding 5 rushing attempts for 37 yards.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/stats/) In 2014 he played 1 game, completing 3 of 8 passes for 39 yards.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/stats/) His career totals are 4 games, 0 starts, 19 of 39 for 195 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, and a 61.4 passer rating.[2](https://www.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/stats/)
His longest professional association was with the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent time on two separate occasions in 2016 and 2017 and later returned for a third stint, originally seen as a candidate to back up [Matt Ryan](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-ryan) before an undisclosed injury derailed his chances.[6](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/1977801/matt-simms/)
## Family and the name question
Simms comes from one of football's best-known quarterback families. His father, [Phil Simms](https://www.edgepedia.org/phil-simms), is a former Giants quarterback who became a longtime CBS analyst, and his brother [Chris Simms](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-simms) played in the NFL and later became a quarterback analyst.[1](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimmPh00.htm) • [8](https://apnews.com/article/20f9cdd8b2b2ff894f06f3c9443da3b5) Chris Simms said that Matt's NFL chances were hurt by the family name, not because of Chris himself but because of their father's prominence at CBS.[9](https://amp.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/)
## After playing
Simms has worked as a media personality and personal quarterback trainer. He joined the Official Jets Podcast to discuss what he had seen from the Jets at training camp and what to expect from quarterback [Geno Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/geno-smith), and spoke on the podcast about working with Smith, coaching and teaching, and reaching the end of his own career.[7](https://www.newyorkjets.com/podcast/the-official-jets-podcast-matt-simms-gives-expectations-for-geno-smith-in-2026)
## References
1. [Phil Simms, Pro-Football-Reference (Relatives: Sons Chris Simms, Matt Simms)](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SimmPh00.htm)
2. [Matt Simms Stats Summary, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/stats/)
3. [Matt Simms Stats, News and Video, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/)
4. [Matt Simms College Stats: Tennessee QB, Recruit, CFBTrack](https://cfbtrack.com/players/238915-matt-simms)
5. [Matt Simms College Stats, Sports-Reference](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/matt-simms-1.html)
6. [Matt Simms, Atlanta Falcons, QB, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/1977801/matt-simms/)
7. [The Official Jets Podcast: Matt Simms Gives Expectations for Geno Smith](https://www.newyorkjets.com/podcast/the-official-jets-podcast-matt-simms-gives-expectations-for-geno-smith-in-2026)
8. [CBS Sports announces Matt Ryan will join NFL studio show; Simms and Esiason depart, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/20f9cdd8b2b2ff894f06f3c9443da3b5)
9. [Matt Simms news archive, NFL.com (Chris Simms: Matt Simms' NFL chances hurt by name)](https://amp.nfl.com/players/matt-simms/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Quarterbacks › 2010s quarterbacks › Quarterbacks entering the NFL 2010–2015*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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