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Green Bay Packers to release linebacker Isaiah Simmons

Danby: Daniel Hager08/26/25DanielHagerOn3
Green-Bay-Packers-to-release-linebacker-Isaiah-Simmons
© Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Green Bay Packers are releasing linebacker Isaiah Simmons ahead of Tuesday’s 53-man roster deadline, per CBS Sports‘ Matt Zenitz. Simmons signed with Green Bay this offseason after spending the last two seasons with the New York Giants.

Simmons was selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals out of Clemson. Over five NFL seasons (84 games), Simmons boasts 329 tackles, 15 TFL, 8.5 sacks and five interceptions. He immediately becomes a gem on the free agency market for a team looking for depth heading into the season.

In three preseason games, Simmons recorded 21 tackles. He led Green Bay in tackles in both of their final two preseason games.

Simmons was a four-star recruit coming out of Olate North (Olathe, KS) in the Class of 2016, where he was tabbed the No.340-ranked player in the country. He committed to Clemson, where he’d play from 2016-2019. As a Tiger, he recorded 238 tackles, 28.5 TFL, 11 sacks and four interceptions in 44 career games. He was given the Butkus Award in 2019, along with being named a Unanimous All-American and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year.

Simmons hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in the NFL

He played a pivotal role in Clemson’s 2018 National Championship team and positioned himself as one of the best players in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Simmons’ NFL career with the Cardinals got off to a great start, as he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after recorded 54 tackles, four TFL, two sacks and an interception in 2020. In 50 games with Arizona, Simmons recorded 258 tackles, 13 TFL, 7.5 sacks and four interceptions. He was however traded to the New York Giants ahead of the 2023 season, marking his destination for the next two seasons.

The young linebacker didn’t quite live up to expectations with the Giants, as his numbers dropped dramatically. He played in all 34 of New York’s regular season games over the past two seasons, but started in just five of those games. His standout moment with the franchise came in New York’s 29-20 win over the Seattle Seahawks last season, where he blocked a game-tying field goal which teammate Bryce Ford-Wheaton returned 60 yards for a touchdown with 55 seconds remaining.

He will now be searching for his fourth team in six years ahead of the 2025 NFL season.