Isaiah Simmons’ latest stop in the NFL has come to an end.
The Carolina Panthers released the linebacker-safety hybrid on Sunday, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, trimming him from the club’s final roster after he spent the offseason fighting to keep his spot. Simmons, 28, is now a free agent heading into the 2026-27 campaign unless another team signs him before the season begins.
“The Panthers are releasing LB/S Isaiah Simmons,” Meirov reported. “The former No. 8 overall pick, known for his versatility, appeared in 5 games for Carolina last season and re-signed on a 1-year deal this offseason.”
Simmons’ career has been defined by that rare blend of versatility and uncertainty. The Arizona Cardinals took him No. 8 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, betting on a defender who could line up at both linebacker and safety. He spent three seasons in Arizona before being traded to the New York Giants, where he played for two years.
Before landing in Carolina, Simmons had been on the field almost constantly through the first five seasons of his career. He missed only one game as a rookie with the Cardinals. Last season with the Panthers, though, he appeared in just five games.
He originally looked like a cut candidate last training camp, then ended up joining Carolina as a late-season acquisition. Simmons now leaves with 331 combined tackles, including 227 solo stops, along with 8.5 sacks, five interceptions, nine forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
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