Former Steelers Davis, Simmons to Coach at NFLPA Collegiate Bowl

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Kendall Simmons and Carey Davis will be coaching up 2023 NFL Draft prospects at the 2023 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in California this week.

The Collegiate Bowl is a college football all-star game held annually at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California and typically features players that are projected to go in Day Three of the NFL Draft.

The head coaches for this year’s event are former Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and former Titans running back and current Tennessee State head coach Eddie George.

The assistant coaching ranks are filled with former NFL players looking to pass their knowledge forward to a younger generation of players and also get their feet wet in coaching.

Simmons, 43, spent seven seasons with the Steelers from 2002-08 after being selected as their first-round pick in the 2002 NFL Draft out of Auburn. Simmons started at right guard for the Steelers for all seven of his seasons and was a part of both of the team’s last two Super Bowl championship squads.

Simmons dealt with significant injury issues throughout his career. He missed all of the 2004 season, and was on the injured reserve list with an Achilles injury when the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII in 2009. His career ended after a shoulder injury the following season.

Simmons returned to his native Auburn, Alabama after his retirement and has worked as a diabetes advocate. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes after his rookie season in Pittsburgh. In 2022, Simmons was hired as the offensive line coach at Auburn.

Davis, 41, played fullback for the Steelers from 2007-09, and was also on the Super Bowl XLIII-winning squad. The Illinois alum spent seven seasons in the NFL after originally signing with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent.

Since the end of his playing career, he has worked as a sideline reporter for Illinois football broadcasts and has a radio show in St. Louis.

Simmons will coach defensive line for the National Team this week. Davis will coach running backs for the American Team.