Marcello Simmons
Encyclopedia
Marcello Muhammad Simmons (born August 8, 1971 in Tomball, Texas
) is a former defensive back
in the National Football League
and the Canadian Football League
.
with the SMU Mustangs
. Simmons would earn SMU's Most Improved Athlete award in 1992. Simmons later graduated from SMU with a B.A.
in Advertising.
, Simmons was selected in the 4th round, 90th overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals
. Simmons dressed in all 16 regular season games for the Bengals during the 1993 NFL Season
, but only started for two games, both against the Houston Oilers, of the season. The following season, Simmons made no game appearances for the Bengals. In January 1995, Simmons signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars
but was a pre-season cut by the team on August 15.
After being cut by the Jaguars, Simmons signed with the Toronto Argonauts
of the Canadian Football League. In September 1995, midway into the 1995 CFL season
Simmons spent his first two weeks on the practice roster but started the last 5 games of the season. In 1996, with Simmons as a starting defensive player with the Argos, the team would go on to win its first of two consecutive Grey Cup
championships. In 1999, just days before the start of training camp, Simmons was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos and would remain there for the rest of the season. In 2000, he signed with the BC Lions but was traded back to the Toronto Argonauts midway into the season. Simmons would eventually end his football career with the Argonauts, spending 6 of his 7 CFL seasons with them.
On June 4, 2010, Simmons was announced as a new member of the coaching staff for the Acadia Axemen
's football team.
Simmons is now the Defensive Back coach for the University of Guelph Gryphons football team.
Tomball, Texas
Tomball is a city in Harris county in the U.S. state of Texas, a part of the Houston metropolitan area. The population was 9,089 at the 2000 census. In 1907, the community of Peck was renamed Tomball. The city are named for local congressman Thomas Henry Ball, who had a major role in the...
) is a former defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
and the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
College career
From 1989-1993, Simmons played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
with the SMU Mustangs
SMU Mustangs football
The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA...
. Simmons would earn SMU's Most Improved Athlete award in 1992. Simmons later graduated from SMU with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Advertising.
Professional career
During the 1993 NFL Draft1993 NFL Draft
The 1993 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 25-26, 1993...
, Simmons was selected in the 4th round, 90th overall, by the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
. Simmons dressed in all 16 regular season games for the Bengals during the 1993 NFL Season
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
, but only started for two games, both against the Houston Oilers, of the season. The following season, Simmons made no game appearances for the Bengals. In January 1995, Simmons signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
but was a pre-season cut by the team on August 15.
After being cut by the Jaguars, Simmons signed with the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the Canadian Football League. In September 1995, midway into the 1995 CFL season
1995 CFL season
The 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...
Simmons spent his first two weeks on the practice roster but started the last 5 games of the season. In 1996, with Simmons as a starting defensive player with the Argos, the team would go on to win its first of two consecutive Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
championships. In 1999, just days before the start of training camp, Simmons was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos and would remain there for the rest of the season. In 2000, he signed with the BC Lions but was traded back to the Toronto Argonauts midway into the season. Simmons would eventually end his football career with the Argonauts, spending 6 of his 7 CFL seasons with them.
Coaching career
In 2003, Simmons was named the special teams coach for the Toronto Argonauts. The team would go on to win a Grey Cup championship a year later. Simmons remained the team's special teams coach until the end of the 2008 season.On June 4, 2010, Simmons was announced as a new member of the coaching staff for the Acadia Axemen
Acadia Axemen
In their history, the Axemen Canadian football teams have appeared in four Vanier Cup national championships, winning two of those in 1979 and in 1981...
's football team.
Simmons is now the Defensive Back coach for the University of Guelph Gryphons football team.