Former Clemson Star Earns NFL Weekly Honor
By: Robert MacRae October 11, 2024

Every Wednesday, the NFL announces its weekly honors, and a former Clemson standout was recognized as one of the league’s top stars in Week 5 of the season.

Isaiah Simmons was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game-sealing play in the New York Giants’ 29-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday.

Simmons, playing in his first game on the Giants’ field goal block team, came up clutch with a blocked kick on a game-tying field goal attempt by the Seahawks in the waning moments of regulation. The blocked field goal was returned for a 60-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left, clinching the win for New York.

This past offseason, the Giants re-signed Simmons, who was an unrestricted free agent. A versatile linebacker/safety, he was traded to New York from the Arizona Cardinals prior the 2023 season.

A first-round pick of the Cardinals in 2020, Simmons played at Clemson from 2016-19. He transitioned from safety in 2017 to the starting nickel/sam linebacker position in 2018 and was eventually named the Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top linebacker in 2019 in only his second year at the position.

Simmons concluded his Clemson career credited with 253 tackles (28.5 for loss), 10.5 sacks, 22 pass breakups, four interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 1,856 career snaps over 44 games (29 starts).

–Photo courtesy Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

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