As a college and pro quarterback, Chris Simms knew how to throw the underneath pass. These days, as a sports media personality, he knows how to get underneath someone’s skin. The NBC Sports football analyst and host of the Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast has become known for hot takes that put Pepper X to shame.
How flammable are Simms’ comments? Well, let’s just say that if he were a sauce on Hot Ones, he would definitely be the dab they call Thermageddon.
Simms is the son of former New York Giants QB and longtime NFL color analyst and studio commentator Phil Simms. While the elder Simms has never kept his opinions to himself, his son has taken the gab gene to another level. The only thing Chris Simms loves more than football is superlatives.
No Fear Approach
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, he told Kay Adams on FanDuel’s Up and Adams, “The Eagles are the most well-built football team we’ve seen this century.”
Philly’s football team was also involved in one of Simms’ most memorable tirades. When ESPN’s SportsCenter reposted a controversial Simms quote about Jalen Hurts and backup QB Gardner Minshew, it brought renewed heat on Simms. Who then proceeded to go on an expletive-laced rant against the network. Yup, if you ever get on Chris Simms’ s**t list, definitely ask if he will give you a chance to apologize.
Whether you love or loathe Simms, you cannot deny his gridiron resume. He was the USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year in 1998 and a big-time signing for the University of Texas. A third-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003, Simms never really developed into a frontline NFL quarterback, with additional stops in Tennessee and Denver.
After his playing days, he served as an assistant coach under Bill Belichick with the Patriots in 2012. Then, like his dad, pursued a career in broadcasting. Early on, it became clear that Chris not only inherited Phil’s penchant for passing, but also his passion. The younger Simms is one of those guys whom you never have to ask, “Where do you stand on this?”
In fact, he will most likely tell you before you ask.
Certainly, the last name helped expedite his TV career. But Simms has climbed the media ladder as co-host of the PFT Live podcast with Mike Florio and through stints with FOX and CBS before joining NBC in 2017. He eventually became part of NBC’s highly rated Football Night in America Sunday night showcase.
The Chris Simms Unbuttoned podcast gives Simms even more time to unleash his opinions.
Effective Strategy
Simms is calculating, and I mean that in a good way. He knows what he is going to say and the reaction he is going to get. He is an intelligent commentator who wants whatever airtime he has to be valuable and memorable. But also, he has the necessary trait of being able to give and take the heat. When he released his top 10 all-time quarterback list earlier this year, it was hotter than ever.
It wasn’t so much that Simms had Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers and John Elway in his top five. It was the fact that he had seven-time Super Bowl champion and multiple NFL record-holder Tom Brady ranked ninth. Furthermore, he had current NFL players Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson ahead of Brady.
Lists and countdowns are a dime a dozen in sports television these days. Simms knew he had to throw a grenade into his list for it to gain widespread interest.
He pulled the pin with Brady at No. 9.
For the 2026 season, Football Night in America has revamped its cast, with Simms, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison, Matthew Berry and Jac Collinsworth departing. Hosted by Maria Taylor, the new roster includes Jason Garrett, Devin McCourty, Mike Tomlin, Florio and Steve Kornacki. I do miss hearing Simms’ takes as a regular on Football Night in America. The guy lives for controversy. Maybe NBC is hoping that Tomlin, the loquacious and always frank former Steelers head coach, will bring that daring style to the show.
We shall see.
One thing we know is that, regardless of the program or platform, Simms will tackle any issue on the table and have a viewpoint that will probably tick off at least half of his audience. The other half will be so angry that they feel compelled to keep watching.
On the latest edition of the Unbuttoned podcast, a play on Simms’ buttoned-to-the-top shirt style, Simms was joined by Connor Rogers to reflect on Week 1 of the NFL season. The podcast moves fervently, with crisp discussion and timely graphics. Simms also showed fine interview skills with his guest, the equally candid Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
In addition to his NFL work, Simms is also an NBC college football analyst and brings the same braggadocio to that task. He recently lashed out at the many Week 1 blowout games pitting powerhouse football schools against much weaker opponents. On NBC’s B1G College Countdown and on Instagram, he stated, “We are in the era of college football super teams. These types of matchups have to go.”
In short, Chris Simms takes football commentary to a new level. For him, it is not about crossing a line. It is about erasing the line completely.
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