The Atlanta Falcons won't be welcoming back veteran safety Justin Simmons this summer after the star defender spent the 2024 campaign as a key piece of the puzzle for the Falcons' defense.
Simmons was quite productive during his stint in Atlanta, starting in all 16 of the games he played and recording 62 total tackles, two interceptions, and seven pass deflections. The two-time Pro Bowl selection wanted nothing to do with returning to the Falcons because he wasn't a believer in the team's ability to make the jump from being a middle-of-the-pack team in the NFC South to a true playoff contender.
Falcons' NFC South Rival Reportedly Making a Play for Justin Simmons
This is what makes the news reported on Monday rather interesting. According to Joe Person of The Athletic, the Carolina Panthers have an interest in adding the veteran safety to the fold and have reached out to Simmons' representation.
Adding to the level of intrigue concerning Carolina's level of interest in Simmons is the fact that the Panthers' defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, worked with the defender during one of the best seasons of his career, as Person noted below.
Mentioned free agent safety Justin Simmons as a possibility for Panthers in today's article (see TL).
— Joe Person (@josephperson) June 16, 2025
Carolina has talked to Simmons' reps but nothing is imminent as of now, per league source.
Simmons led the league w/ 6 INTs in 2022 when he was w/ Ejiro Evero in Denver.
Beyond the connection with Evero, joining the Panthers would go against everything Simmons suggested when counting out running things back with Atlanta. Regardless of what Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard had to say about their chances of being a Super Bowl contender this season, Carolina even qualifying for the playoffs would be a rather massive surprise.
The former third-round pick will turn 32 years old this November. Falcons fans know as well as anyone that Father Time has as good a record against aging NFL players as he does in any professional sport.
No new deal for Simmons is imminent, as Person reported, and the Panthers will have to convince the safety to join them over other options that are closer to contending for titles than Carolina is at this time. One thing seems certain, however, if Simmons does ultimately join the Falcons' division rival then he will hear it from the boo birds in Atlanta when the two sides meet this season.