In his 22nd season with the team, Darrin Simmons is the longest-tenured coach on the Bengals' staff. He has led the special teams for his entire Bengals career. He has held the title of special teams coordinator since 2013, and the title of assistant head coach since '20.
In 2023, Simmons once again worked with K Evan McPherson, who in his third pro season further established himself as one of the NFL's most dynamic kickers. McPherson converted seven FG attempts from 50 or more yards, tied for the fifth most leaguewide, and went a perfect 19-for-19 on kicks inside of 50 yards. Under Simmons, McPherson has 21 career FGs from 50-plus yards, the most in NFL history in a player's first three seasons.
Simmons' work with the special teams has re-written the Bengals' record book. He most notably coached P Kevin Huber, a former Pro Bowler who played in a team-record 216 career games from 2009-22 and set Bengals records in every major punting category. Snapping to Huber for a majority of his time in Cincinnati was LS Clark Harris, who finished his own Bengals career in 2022 with zero unplayable long snaps in 1880 attempts.
In 2022, Simmons oversaw a young special teams corps that featured second-year McPherson, rookie LS Cal Adomitis and first-year P Drue Chrisman. Adomitis took over long-snapping duties in Game 2, and had 146 attempts without an unplayable delivery. McPherson was a perfect five-for-five on FG attempts over 50 yards, and followed up by converting each of his five FG attempts in the postseason.
In 2021, Simmons guided McPherson to one of the top kicking seasons by a rookie in NFL history. McPherson went 28 of 33 on FG attempts, including nine from 50 or more yards — the most in an entire Bengals career, let alone a season. He then went 20-for-20 on placekicks in the postseason (14 FGs, six PATs), with two game-winning FGs to help send Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI. Simmons in 2020 helped Huber post career highs in both gross (47.2 yards) and net (42.8) punting average.
Simmons' special teams units have also excelled in the return game. He has coached three of the Bengals' top four leaders in career punt return average and four of the team's top six leaders in career kickoff return average. In 2019, S Brandon Wilson led the NFL with a 31.25-yard KOR average. That year also saw Cincinnati rank third in the NFL in average starting field position (26.4-yard line). In 2018, the Bengals were fifth in KOR average (24.9 yards) and ninth in punt coverage (7.2 yards/return).
Simmons helped Harris earn a Pro Bowl nod in 2017, as the veteran recorded 143 snaps without an unplayable deliver. In 2016, Simmons guided Alex Erickson, a college free agent, to an AFC-leading 27.9 yards per kick return.
In 2015, Simmons helped HB Cedric Peerman make the Pro Bowl as a kick coverage and return-unit performer, as his 17 ST tackles tied for the highest by a Bengal since '08.
Huber's Pro Bowl season came in 2014, when he posted then-franchise records for gross (46.8) and net (42.1) average. Also in '14, Simmons helped CB Adam Jones lead the NFL in KOR average with a team-record mark of 31.26.
Simmons entered the NFL in 1998 with the Baltimore Ravens, serving as assistant special teams coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach. He then served in the same role with the Carolina Panthers from 1999-2002, before joining the Bengals in '03.
Simmons began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Kansas, his alma mater, in 1996. He punted for the Jayhawks from 1993-95, earning All-Big Eight and Academic All-America honors in '95. He graduated with a sports management degree in 1996.
Prior to Kansas, Simmons was a punter and QB at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College, where in 1992 he led the nation's junior colleges in punting and was a first-team JUCO All-American.
Born April 9, 1973, in Elkhart, Kan., Simmons graduated from Elkhart High School. He and his wife, Rhonda, have a daughter and two sons.
Playing and coaching history: 1991-92—Played QB and P at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. 1993-95—Played P at Kansas. 1996—Graduate assistant coach, Kansas. 1997—Assistant coach (AC), University of Minnesota. 1998—AC, Baltimore Ravens. 1999-2002—AC, Carolina Panthers. 2003-12—AC, Cincinnati Bengals. 2013-19—Special teams coordinator, Bengals. 2020-present—Assistant head coach/special teams coordinator, Bengals.
