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In these parts, Phil Simms certainly needs no introduction.

Drafted in 1979 from Morehead State by the New York Giants, the Kentucky native went on to play 15 seasons as quarterback for Big Blue – an integral part of two Super Bowl championship teams (XXI and XXV). Simms won the Super Bowl XXI MVP as he led the Giants to a 39-20 victory over the Denver Broncos – featuring a historic performance that included setting records for Super Bowl completion percentage (22 of 25 passes – 88%) and passer rating (150.9).

In 1995, his No. 11 jersey was retired by the Giants.

Following his playing career, Simms entered the broadcasting world. After stints at ESPN and NBC, he ultimately joined CBS in 1998, which began a more than two decade run with the network. That time included a variety of roles, such as serving as an analyst on CBS’s lead broadcast teams, then working on the CBS pregame show – The NFL Today – and serving as a host on Inside the NFL on Showtime (a CBS holding).

Simms, 69, departed CBS last spring after his contract expired, along with another legendary quarterback, Boomer Esiason, amid a shakeup of The NFL Today lineup.

“Great 26 yrs run with CBS SPORTS. Even though that part of my career is over I look forward to what is next..,” Simms wrote in an April 29 post on X.

“Phil and Boomer set the standard of excellence for NFL analysts,” said David Berson, president and CEO, CBS Sports, in a statement at the time. “We are so grateful for their immeasurable contributions to CBS Sports. We genuinely thank them for being incredible teammates and for their passion, dedication and commitment to elevating CBS Sports’ NFL coverage every season.”

Moving on

Those developments have opened new opportunities for Simms as he charts the next chapter of his life and career.

“I’m as happy as I’ve ever been in this business,” Simms told Newsday in June. “Everybody goes, ‘How you doin’?’” he said. “I didn’t freakin’ die. I don’t know what to say sometimes. I’m fine. Don’t worry. It’s going to be great. It’s going to be awesome. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a good change in my life.”

And Simms has been a busy man throughout this football season – doing everything from working on Giants preseason games; calling games on Westwood One Radio and Compass Media; regular radio segments on WFAN with Esiason and Gregg Giannotti on “Boomer & Gio,” as well as on Sirius XM with Chris Russo and Adam Schein; the “Simms Complete” podcast with his son, Matt; and more.

On the business side, Simms has been serving as a brand ambassador with the Giants. He also has partnerships where he serves as a spokesman and brand ambassador as part of national campaigns for Balance of Nature and Arthritis Knee Pain Centers.

Life in Jersey

NJBIZ caught up with Simms to discuss business, broadcasting, the Giants and much more, including his life in New Jersey.

“Well, I met my wife here – my kids were all born here and everything,” Simms told NJBIZ. “I stayed here for many reasons. But I think No. 1 is playing for the Giants. And two, I loved it. I like the energy of New Jersey, the people. And just to be funny, I always say – and the food is just great up here. I go – thank God I wasn’t born here. I’d probably been a damn defensive end.”

To that point, Simms noted that he had just been at an Italian restaurant a few nights earlier and commented to his wife, Diana, how good the food was.

And New Jersey has certainly embraced the Giants legend. In November, in fact, Simms was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

“Of course, I was honored. It’s a great honor,” said Simms. “When you hear the other people that are in the New Jersey Hall of Fame, you go – wow, I don’t know if I deserve to be in. Sometimes I think I need to sit back and just go – how lucky I’ve really been to have success up here with the Giants; to play for good coaches. But Bill Parcells comes to the forefront, for sure. How he changed my life and a lot of other players for the New York Giants. Because he gave us a chance and helped us win games and things like that.”

Simms stressed how much he loves the people of New Jersey and living in Franklin Lakes. “People always think I’m going to move back to Kentucky,” said Simms, noting he has lived here longer than he lived in Kentucky. “I’m going to stay here for the rest of my life.”

He is also asked if he is moving to Florida – and in a joking reference to his pale complexion, said he asks those folks if he looks like the guy who is going to take the Florida sun.

“I will not be moving to Florida or anything like that,” Simms emphasized. “I love it here. My children are all around in this area too – so that’s just more reason why I want to stay here.”

The conversation with Simms took place during the throes of the Giants brutal 3-14 season – as the drama and benching (and eventual release) of quarterback Daniel Jones was taking place. Jones later signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

Simms said it had been a tough situation – noting that he likes Jones, knows the work he put in, respects how he went about his business as a Giant and believes he handled things the right way.

“It just didn’t work,” said Simms. “He did the best he could – but sometimes that’s not enough.”

What’s next?

From there, the conversation shifted to this next chapter of his broadcasting career. Simms reiterated his positive attitude about the future.

“Yes, absolutely – maybe even more so now,” he stated. “I’m just really happy. I’ve been really happy this football season. What I’m doing – it’s a little bit of everything. I like being around the Giants more and being part of that. I’ve been working for them some – and probably would like it to be more, to be honest. When I went back in there in training camp and being around, I just felt there’s nothing like walking into the building and the organization – and the people and football.”

Going back into that setting, Simms said he realized how much he missed that almost family-like atmosphere of the Giants.

“You go in there and people are there from back when I was there,” said Simms. “The whole building lives and dies with what happens every Sunday. Yes, there’s a lot of heartache being part of NFL teams or even in the front office. But you do it because it’s so important to you; it’s fun. There’s nothing like going out there on Sunday – and here we go, win or lose – what’s going to happen? But the excitement is always there. And I kind of feel that just being around.”

Yes, there’s a lot of heartache being part of NFL teams or even in the front office. But you do it because it’s so important to you; it’s fun. There’s nothing like going out there on Sunday…
– Phil Simms, former New York Giants quarterback

And while the results on the field did not turn out for the Giants as hoped, the franchise’s 100th anniversary provided a number of opportunities to relive historic moments – many of which were provided by the teams that Simms led.

“That’s really been good to relive the history a little bit,” said Simms, noting how special it was to get together with old teammates as well as meet the sons and daughters of older players who have passed away. “That was really, truly special.”

Simms also discussed his radio and podcast work.

“They’ve been great. I’m not trying to separate myself in certain ways from other people – but I always say this. I think I owe it to the players and coaches to see what’s going on; learn what’s going on; and tell the truth,” said Simms. “I know they would want that. It’s too much headlines – and not let’s look a little farther past the headlines to see what’s really going on. What do the fans know? They know what they read in the papers and what they hear on TV or on radio. And a lot of it is good – but a lot of it is not good. I just feel like that’s part of what I’m supposed to do – is go out there and make sure I tell the truth.

“I’m on a few radio shows every week. I love that,” he added. “Sometimes it’s a little nerve-wracking. But I do like it. You can really have time to talk, make a point, and go into detail about certain stuff that you would never have time to do that on TV.”

Making connections

He also discussed his partnerships with Balance of Nature and Arthritis Knee Pain Centers.

“I’m being honest – I’m proud of it,” said Simms, recounting an old knee injury that had flared up as he first spoke about Arthritis Knee Pain Centers. “And I remember seeing, on TV, the Lee Trevino commercials. And I said – I’m going to check this out. And when I checked it out, a relationship came about. It did help me. And I have no pain in my right knee. It’s been great. They’ve treated me great.”

“And Balance of Nature – look, I’m into supplements and I’ve been taking it for years,” said Simms. “Somehow, we got connected – and I just told my story to them. And that’s where that came about. I’m happy with both, for sure.”

Eventually, the football season will end, and Simms’ attention will turn to other activities.

“When the season’s over, I would like to expand what I’m doing. And when I say expanded – what does that mean? Well, maybe more podcasts. I do one a week with my son, Matt, which like I said, I love,” said Simms, noting that the podcast allows more time to really dig in on certain topics. He also has a daughter, Deirdre, and another son, Chris, who played in the NFL and serves as an analyst for NBC’s league coverage. Matt is a former NFL quarterback as well. “I would like to be a little more part of the New York Giants, to expand that role. And then also, which I think we’re going to do, Matt does teach a lot of young quarterbacks – and I would like to expand that and make it bigger. I love being on the field teaching young kids. It’s great.”

Simms emphasized that he is satisfied with how this phase of his life and career is unfolding.

“Sometimes it sounds like I’m taking shots at CBS – and no, I’m not. I’m happy – that’s all I can say,” Simms stressed. “I’m really happy with my life, my family. I love what I am doing. I said to somebody yesterday – look, I’d like to do what I’m doing now until I’m 80. If I can live that long and stay healthy and all that. If I could do that, man, I’d be the luckiest guy there is. I don’t know what else to say.”

Simms said he loves being involved in the NFL and football, in general.

“And this lets me do that,” he said. “We’ll see where it goes. I don’t have any grand plans. If it stays just like this, that would be awesome.”

“I am thrilled of what has transpired for Phil after his long, high-profile run at CBS,” Steve Rosner, co-founder of Rutherford-based 16W Marketing, who has been Simms’ long-time representative. “Actually, in some ways, it has turned out better for him as he has been able to provide football-related content on various platforms – that due to time and exclusivity, Phil was unable to do before. And his endorsement portfolio has seen an upward tick as well. Onward and upward for not only this Giants and broadcasting legend – but great guy as well.”