Jeffery Simmons Sends Clear Message as Titans Spiral: “We Need a Culture Change”
The Tennessee Titans are in the middle of a brutal season, and Jeffery Simmons isn’t sugarcoating it. As one of the franchise’s cornerstone players, the Pro Bowl defensive lineman is making it clear: whoever takes over as head coach next has to do more than just call plays - they need to rebuild the identity of this team from the ground up.
“We have to have somebody that is going to change the culture around here when they hire the new coach,” Simmons said, and honestly, he’s not wrong.
Since parting ways with Brian Callahan, the Titans have handed the reins to interim coach Mike McCoy. The result?
A winless 0-5 stretch under McCoy, with the team struggling to stay competitive on either side of the ball. The offense has cracked the 20-point mark just once during that run.
The defense - Simmons’ domain - has allowed 25 or more points in all but one of those games. That’s not just a rough patch.
That’s a team unraveling.
At 1-11, Tennessee isn’t playing for the playoffs anymore. They’re playing for pride, development, and maybe most importantly, direction. And Simmons, as both a leader in the locker room and a force on the field, wants to see a clear plan - one that’s built around winning, not just surviving.
The Titans haven’t made the postseason since 2021. And by the time the 2026 season kicks off, they’ll have gone through four different head coaches if you count McCoy’s interim tenure.
That kind of turnover doesn’t just make headlines - it makes it hard to build anything sustainable. Yes, a high draft pick might help jumpstart the rebuild, but Simmons is pointing to a deeper issue: the culture.
And he’s doing his part. Coming into Week 13, Simmons led the team with 5.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits.
He added another sack against the Jaguars, continuing to show up even as the losses pile up. But effort alone isn’t enough when the team around you looks flat and uninspired.
The loss to Jacksonville was another gut punch - not just because of the scoreboard, but because of how lifeless the Titans looked. That’s what Simmons is talking about.
This isn’t just about X’s and O’s. It’s about attitude, accountability, and building a winning mindset that can weather adversity.
Whoever takes over in Tennessee next will inherit a team with some talent, a likely top draft pick, and a fanbase desperate for change. But most importantly, they’ll inherit a locker room that needs a new voice - one that players like Simmons can believe in.
Because for Simmons, this isn’t just about fixing a bad season. It’s about laying the foundation for something better.
Something tougher. Something that wins.