DB Coach Jason Simmons Grew Up a Raider

Las Vegas Raiders defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator Jason Simmons loves his job.

A coach who seemingly always wears a smile on his face is right where he wants to be as he enters his second season with the Raiders and 13th as an NFL coach.

There's a reason for that.

"I grew up in the L.A. area; I went to Leuzinger High School," Simmons told our Hondo S. Carpenter Sr. "So I've watched games in the L.A. Coliseum. So understand that this franchise has a special place with me just in general. Just growing up where I did, you're a Raider."

Simmons is always displaying his positive energy, whether it's chatting with a player or even when they've made a mistake.

"[I] think the biggest thing is -- and I got this from a guy that was here, he coached me in college, Rod Marinelli," Simmons said. "And he was like: 'Know the man before you've coached the man.' And that allows you to be able to be tough on guys because they know you're coming from a place of love."

Another coach Simmons learned from was Johnny Holland, who currently serves as the linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers.

"When I played for him (Holland) in Houston, the biggest thing is he said: 'Don't forget, the person who is most upset about making the mistake is the player. So as you do it, make sure you go over there just to correct the play and speak to them, you know what I mean? So speak to the player, correct the play, and not always the person."

Simmons began his coaching career as a defensive assistant and secondary coach with the Green Bay Packers from the 2011 season to the 2014 season.

He then held the role of assistant special teams coach for two seasons before moving back to the secondary in the 2018 season.

In his final season coaching in Green Bay (2019-20), Simmons served as the team's defensive backs coach.

Simmons then coached for the Carolina Panthers in the 2020 and the 2021 seasons, having acted as the defensive passing game coordinator and secondary coach.

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