Corey Jermaine Simon (born March 2, 1977) is an American politician and member of the Republican Party, who serves as the Florida State Senator from the 3rd district. He is a former American football defensive tackle who played eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Florida State University (FSU), earned consensus All-American honors, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. The Philadelphia Eagles chose him with the sixth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, and he played professionally for the Eagles, Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. He was selected to the 2004 Pro Bowl.
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Simon in 2004 | |||||||||
No. 90, 97, 96 | |||||||||
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Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | (1977-03-02) March 2, 1977 (age 45) Boynton Beach, Florida | ||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 320 lb (145 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Florida) | ||||||||
College: | Florida State (1996–1999) | ||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||
Corey Simon | |
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Member of the Florida Senate from the 3rd district | |
Incumbent | |
Assumed office November 8, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Loranne Ausley |
Personal details | |
Born | Corey Jermaine Simon March 2, 1977 Tallahassee, Florida |
Political party | Republican |
Education | Florida State University |
Simon was born in Boynton Beach, Florida.[1] He attended Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he played for the Ely Mighty Tigers high school football team. As a senior, he was the Miami Herald's defensive player of the year, named to the All-USA squad by USA Today, and a Super Prep Dream Team selection.
Simon accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Florida State University, where he played for coach Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles football team from 1996 to 1999. He was considered to be the most dominating defensive lineman in college football. Following his senior season, Simon was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) selection, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American.[2] He was also a finalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy. He ended his career at FSU by helping his team win a BCS National Championship. His 44 tackles behind the line of scrimmage tied the Seminoles' career record set by Ron Simmons.
The Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the first round (sixth pick overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft, and he played for the Eagles from 2000 until 2004. He started in four NFC Championship games during his six seasons with the Eagles. Philadelphia reached the Super Bowl once during these years, losing Super Bowl XXXIX to the New England Patriots, 24-21. After the 2004 season, the Eagles placed the franchise tag on Simon, which he refused to sign. After contract negotiations failed to produce a long-term deal, the Eagles lifted the franchise tag, making Simon an unrestricted free agent.
Simon signed with the Indianapolis Colts, for whom he played the entire 2005 season. In 2006, Simon underwent surgery, was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform / Non-Football Injury list during training camp, and did not play in any games. He did not attend Super Bowl XLI with other inactive players. However he was still delivered a ring. He was once coined "the missing piece to the Super Bowl puzzle".
On August 1, 2007, Colts owner Jim Irsay stated that Simon's release from the team was imminent once a settlement could be reached. The team announced Simon's release on Saturday, August 4, 2007.
On August 28, 2007, the Tennessee Titans signed Simon.
Year | Team | GP | COMB | SOLO | AST | SACK | FF | FR | FR YDS | INT | IR YDS | AVG IR | LNG | TD | PD |
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2000 | PHI | 16 | 52 | 38 | 14 | 9.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2001 | PHI | 16 | 47 | 36 | 11 | 7.5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2002 | PHI | 14 | 40 | 33 | 7 | 2.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2003 | PHI | 16 | 40 | 32 | 8 | 7.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2004 | PHI | 16 | 32 | 26 | 6 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2005 | IND | 13 | 34 | 25 | 9 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2007 | TEN | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Career | 95 | 246 | 190 | 56 | 32.0 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Key
On October 25, 2007, Corey Simon announced that he was retiring from professional football after eight seasons in the NFL because of polyarthritis.[4] He lives in the northeastern suburbs of Tallahassee.[5]
On June 13, 2022, Simon announced his candidacy for Florida's Third senatorial district, running as a Republican against Democrat Loranne Ausley, after serving as CEO of Volunteer Florida. Due to redistricting the Florida Legislature redrew Florida's Third senatorial district boundaries to the east and reduced the Democratic advantage seen in previous elections. Simon had the backing and was recurited by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and Senator Ben Albritton, due to his assoication with Florida State University football. Simon refused to give detailed policy positions during his campaign, and canceled a debate with the Tallahassee Democrat and the League of Women Voters because according to him they are a "liberal farce".[6] During the campaign Simon refused to say without a doubt that Joe Biden won the 2020 United States Presidential election against Donald Trump.[7] Simon also accused Loranne Ausley and the Florida Democratic Party of funding racist ads depicting photos of children with nearby bullet holes and targets as well as Simon in a target frame with stray bullets to the side. The flyer was produced by the Florida Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, led by Democratic Leader Sen. Lauren Book. Simon campaigned heavily against LBGTQ issues, going after votes Ausley made during her time in the Florida Legislature such as voting against the Fairness in Women's Sports Act (SB 1028) which banned transgender minors from competing in sports that align with their gender identity.[8] Simon also repeadily went after her vote against the Parental Rights in Education Act which prohibits "classroom instruction" on sexual orientation or gender identity in "kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards".[9] On November 8, 2022, Simon defeated Loranne Ausley in the general election with 53% of the vote.[10] Simon is the first African American Republican State Senator from Florida since Reconstruction.[11]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Democratic | Loranne Ausley (incumbent) | 47 | ||
Republican | Corey Simon | 53 | ||
Total votes | 100% |
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1999 Florida State Seminoles football—consensus national champions | |
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1999 College Football All-America Team consensus selections | |
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Offense |
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Defense |
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Special teams |
2000 NFL Draft first-round selections | |
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Philadelphia Eagles first-round draft picks | |
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Philadelphia Eagles 2000 NFL draft selections | |
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