The Making of a Franchise Player: How Rookie Josh Simmons Became the Chiefs’ Unstoppable Force Overnight

In the high-stakes world of the NFL, teams invest millions and spend countless hours scouting, drafting, and developing players in the hope of finding that one rare gem—a franchise-altering talent who can anchor a team for a decade or more. For the Kansas City Chiefs, a team already blessed with superstar talent, the unearthing of such a player at a crucial position can feel like striking gold. After a stunning preseason performance against the Chicago Bears, it appears they have found their gold nugget in rookie left tackle, Josh Simmons. His play was not just good; it was a masterclass in offensive line dominance, a display of technique, power, and intelligence that has left coaches, analysts, and fans alike convinced that they are witnessing the birth of a future All-Pro.

The left tackle position is one of the most critical and demanding roles in football, tasked with protecting the blind side of a right-handed quarterback. For the Chiefs, this means protecting their most valuable asset, the phenomenal Patrick Mahomes. The pressure on any player stepping into this role is immense, let alone a rookie. Yet, Josh Simmons didn’t just handle the pressure; he thrived on it, turning in a performance that was as technically sound as it was physically imposing.

From the very first snap, Simmons established a level of control that is rarely seen from a player of his experience. In pass protection, he was virtually flawless. Film analysis reveals a player who has already mastered the subtle arts of the position. His patience is remarkable; he never oversets or lunges, instead waiting for the defender to commit before engaging with a powerful and precise strike. His hand placement is consistently inside the defender’s chest, allowing him to control the engagement, while his incredible arm extension keeps pass rushers at a distance, neutralizing their power before it can even become a threat.

What truly sets Simmons apart, however, is his anchor. On multiple plays against the Bears, defenders attempted to bull rush him, a move designed to collapse the pocket through sheer force. Time and again, Simmons dug his cleats into the turf, lowered his center of gravity, and became an immovable object. The rushes didn’t just slow down; they came to a dead stop. This ability to absorb and negate power is a rare trait and a cornerstone of elite tackle play. While other linemen, including some of his own teammates, occasionally displayed common bad habits like playing with a high chest or letting their hands get outside the frame, Simmons remained a paragon of technical excellence.

His dominance was not limited to standard pass sets. The Bears threw a variety of looks at him—different rushers, complex stunts, and blitz packages—all in an attempt to find a weakness. They found none. When faced with one-on-one matchups, he made it look effortless, consistently walling off defenders and giving his quarterback a clean pocket to operate from. When they tried to confuse the line with stunts—a tactic where defensive linemen cross paths to create chaos—Simmons displayed the football IQ of a veteran. He remained patient, passed off his initial man to the guard seamlessly, and squared up the looping defender, neutralizing the threat with calm efficiency. It was a textbook execution that spoke volumes about his preparation and coaching.

While his pass protection was a sight to behold, his impact on the running game was equally profound, albeit in a more nuanced way. On inside zone plays, the bread and butter of many NFL running schemes, his technique was again on full display. He consistently demonstrated the effort and desire to finish his blocks, running his feet through contact and rolling his hips to generate movement. While these blocks might not always show up as pancake blocks on the highlight reel, they are the foundation of a successful ground attack.

Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of his performance was the “compounding effect” of his dominance. As the game wore on, the defensive ends lining up against him grew hesitant. Conditioned by his impenetrable pass protection, they began to anticipate a pass rush on every down. This split-second hesitation was all the Chiefs’ offense needed. With the defenders focused on getting to the quarterback, massive running lanes opened up, allowing the running backs to gash the defense for significant gains. This indirect impact is the hallmark of a truly great offensive lineman—a player whose excellence elevates the entire unit.

This was never more evident than on a goal-line touchdown run. On an inside zone concept, Simmons was tasked with a difficult cut-off block on a defender lined up on the backside of the play. Executing this block requires incredible athleticism, timing, and power. Simmons delivered flawlessly, sealing off the defender and creating a wide-open lane for the running back to waltz into the end zone untouched. It was a single play that encapsulated his entire performance: technically perfect, physically dominant, and game-changing.

Analysts who have broken down the film are running out of superlatives. He has been called the “best tackle” of the preseason, with some even suggesting his rookie performance already looks more polished than that of seasoned veterans like former Chief Orlando Brown Jr. The consensus is clear: Josh Simmons possesses the complete package. He has the punch, the extension, the anchor, and the base—all the physical and technical tools required for elite play.

For the Kansas City Chiefs and their fans, the emergence of Josh Simmons is more than just a pleasant surprise; it’s a potential game-changer. In a league where quarterback protection is paramount, securing a lockdown left tackle can be the difference between a good offense and a historically great one. While it is still early in his career, the performance against the Bears was not a fluke. It was a statement. It was the announcement of a player who is not just ready for the NFL but is poised to dominate it. The term “future All-Pro” is often thrown around lightly, but in the case of Josh Simmons, it feels less like a prediction and more like an inevitability. The rest of the league has been put on notice: there is a new force on the Chiefs’ offensive line, and he is scarily good.