NASHVILLE – Surrounded by kids at a football camp he hosted last week, Jeffery Simmons provided the perfect example of an NFL player giving back in his community.

Since joining the Titans in 2019, the defensive tackle has built a strong reputation for his off-field work, when he's spread his time, and wealth.

"Everything I do," Simmons explained. "I do it from the heart. And I enjoy doing what I do."

On this day, Simmons had no idea he was going to be surprised by his good friend, Jelly Roll.

As Simmons was speaking, the country music star came up from behind to surprise him with a hug, a trophy, and some big news: Simmons was the team's nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award for the third year in a row.

The campers on hand, roughly 60 in all, cheered on the moment as Simmons wiped tears from his eyes.

"Now that was a good surprise," Simmons said with a smile. "I didn't expect Jelly here today, and I didn't expect this (award) honestly. There are so many guys on this team that do a lot of work. Guys are constantly in the community. For me to (named) three years in a row, that means so much honestly.

"I don't do this for the publicity, and the awards that come with it. But that means a lot, to be able to represent the Tennessee Titans. … Even the commissioner says, this award is probably one of the biggest awards in the NFL. And it just shows that no matter what is going on on the field, our community needs us."

Jelly Roll, a CMA and CMT Awards winner, a two-time Grammy nominee, and a longtime Titans fan, was happy to deliver the news.

And he's happy to be friends with Simmons, a three-time Pro-Bowler, and a five-time team captain.

"I almost cried with him," Jelly Roll said. "Jeff deserves this, but he doesn't do this for attention. He'll go do 100s of thousands of dollars of philanthropy and not tell a soul. When you do that much work in the dark, it has to feel a little good to be acknowledged in the light. And he deserves all the praise."

"Any time I can see Big Jeff, or surprise him, or hang with him. He has such a kindred spirit to mine."

Considered one of the league's most prestigious honors, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award recognizes an NFL player for outstanding community service activities off the field, as well as excellence on the field.

As a nominee, Simmons will wear a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year helmet decal through the end of the season in recognition of his accomplishments on and off the field.

All 32 nominees will be recognized for their achievements during the week leading up to the Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area. The winner of the 2025 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award will be announced during NFL Honors, a primetime awards special to air nationally on FOX and the NFL Network on Thursday, February 5.

"The night we drafted Jeffery, he committed to making an impact on the Titans organization on and off the field," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said. "We could not ask for a more dedicated and passionate player, which is why we are thrilled to announce Jeffery Simmons as our Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee for the third consecutive season. Jeffery has displayed tremendous leadership as a five-time team captain and continues to be a cornerstone for this team. As impressive as he is on the field, it is his unwavering commitment to positively impacting youth in both Nashville and in his hometown (in Mississippi) that earns him this honor. We are grateful for all he has done for the Titans and our community."

Since launching the Give Em A Reason Foundation in 2022, Simmons, raised by a single mother with five children, has consistently hosted a number of giveback initiatives as part of his non-profit's mission to serve others through youth empowerment and self-esteem-building opportunities.

Through his "Give Em a Reason" Foundation, Simmons hopes to offer kids from a similar background a reason to hope, reach, grow and never give up. Simmons hand selects the organizations who will benefit, and he goes beyond writing checks, he shows up. He sees the need for male role models and mentors, and he answers the call.

As part of the work with his foundation, Simmons has partnered with countless non-profits and community engagement programs around Nashville and his hometown of Macon, Miss., such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee, Rally on the Runway, Backfield in Motion, Seacrest Studios, MNPS HERO program, Fund Recovery, Reach Unlimited, Noxubee Titans, and the Nashville Juvenile Detention Center. In addition, he hosts an annual Thanksgiving turkey drive, Christmas shopping spree, youth football camp and community day in his hometown. Simmons remains committed to serving the youth and acting as a source of inspiration for those battling adversity. Whether it is a cancer diagnosis, poverty, incarceration, or any other obstacle, Simmons wants to instill a belief of hope in the next generation.

"This franchise is known for giving," Jelly Roll said. "We've had a lot of givers, Derrick (Henry), Jurrell (Casey), we've had some legendary givers in this franchise. Jeff is a man who grew up with nothing in Macon, Mississippi, and he acts like it.

"But I always tell people there's two different versions of Jeff. There's the Jeff I see during the week, and I see him on FaceTime and he's all happy. And then there's the Jeff I see at the football games, and I don't recognize that guy. He is a killer man.

"(Jeff) is literally the most gentle giant, until he walks on the football field."

The Walter Payton Man of the Year award was established in 1970. It was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton.

Fans are once again encouraged to participate in Nationwide's annual Charity Challenge, a social media and online contest that allows fans to show support for their favorite Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year club winner. Fans can vote on X/Twitter by posting #WPMOYChallenge along with the last name/X handle (Simmons/GrindSimmons94) of their chosen player or by voting directly on NFL.com/ManOfTheYear. The charitable beneficiary of the player who receives the most collective hashtag mentions and online votes will win an additional $35,000 donation from Nationwide, with the nonprofit partners of the runner-up and third-place finishers receiving $10,000 and $5,000, respectively. Charity Challenge voting takes place from Dec. 4 through Jan. 5, 2026.

A look at some of the highlights from Simmons, and his work in the community, just in the past year:

-During Thanksgiving week, Simmons, along with his Give Em a Reason Foundation, hosted an event for 60 students from the Martha O'Brien Center, ages K through 8th grade.

The camp tied into Give Em A Reason's focus on sports equity this season, by first hosting a fun, skills and drills football camp for the students, put on by Simmons and his teammates. Afterward, they split into groups and participated in a mental health talk and Q&A session, assisted by representatives from NAMI Davidson County. Following the session, students will be provided dinner catered by Hattie B's Hot Chicken, and all attendees will take home a turkey, collard greens, and mac and cheese from Hattie B's Hot Chicken.

-Simmons started a Sack for Sports Equity Campaign – an initiative aimed at eliminating the financial and logistical barriers to sports participation for students in Nashville experiencing housing instability. Simmons has pledged to donate $980 for every sack he records during the 2025 season. These funds will directly support students enrolled in the HERO Program, providing essentials like sports physicals, transportation, and essential sports gear like cleats or other personal items needed to play. He also donated new shoulder pads for the Maplewood High School football team.

-Simmons has hosted multiple events with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee. This fall, Simmons hosted a fishing event for 15 BBBSMT matches, in which he taught everyone how to fish. He also took six local high school students in the BBBSMT program to Men's Warehouse where they were fitted for brand new suits as Simmons offered support as a friend and mentor.

-This year, Simmons partnered with the Fund Recovery and Reach United to "Tackle Overdoses Now" by installing vending machines that dispense free naloxone. Vending machines have already been installed in Jackson, Mississippi; Fentree County, Tennessee; and downtown Nashville, Tennessee, with plans to expand to other cities across the country. Simmons is lending his face and voice in effort to erase the stigma of carrying naloxone.
In his hometown, it was common for Simmons' peers to turn to drugs as something to do, thus preventing them from achieving their full potential. In an effort to reduce the number of youth who turn to drugs to begin with, Simmons, as part of his Give Em a Reason Foundation, has worked to create secondary prevention methods for the youth, in addition to providing free naloxone.
These methods include reviving the youth football and cheerleading teams, the Noxubee Titans in Mississippi, by providing a $50,000 donation and continued support in growing the programs. The funds helped participants afford uniforms, practice equipment and field maintenance. In addition, Simmons hosted his third annual Community Funday in his hometown of Macon, Mississippi, inviting neighbors to a block party that featured live entertainment, including a surprise performance by Jelly Roll, a wide array of food and apparel vendors, as well as water slides for families to enjoy. Simmons also hosted his annual free football camp in Starkville, Mississippi, which featured a record-high 600 campers this year.

Also, during the Thanksgiving season in 2024, Simmons hosted over 60 students from the non-profit Backfield in Motion to Nissan Stadium for a dinner of Hattie B's while treating the students to new Crocs and a turkey to take home for the holidays. In true team captain fashion, he recruited other members of the team to join him. It continued his streak of giving back during the holiday seasons.

In 2023, he fed more than 500 families by organizing a drive-thru turkey distribution event at Nissan Stadium.
For the past several Christmas seasons, Simmons has provided local kids in need with a shopping spree prior to the holiday.

Simmons has also served as the honorary chair for Rally on the Runway for the last two years, supporting a leading pediatric cancer research foundation. As honorary chair, Simmons recruits fellow Titans players to escort kids impacted by childhood cancer down the runway for a fashion show fundraiser. Over the last two years, the event has raised $984,837 towards fighting childhood cancer.

Simmons has also made it a priority to visit Seacrest Studio at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt multiple times throughout the years. While there, Simmons spends time answering patients' questions on a live broadcast and offering encouragement.

In addition to all of his community work through his foundation, Simmons continually shows up for Titans community activations, such as attending local high school football games for Titans Fireball Fridays and elementary schools for T-Rac School Shows, as well as NFL Flag Regional Tournaments.

Simmons also visited the Juvenile Detention Center, located next to Nissan Stadium, with Jelly Roll and other Titans players. He shared a meal with the young residents while engaging in conversations to provide hope, inspiration and encouragement for their futures.