One of the lone bright spots of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 2025 season was the emergence of rookie left tackle Josh Simmons. The Chiefs drafted Simmons with the 32nd pick in last year’s draft, and he instantly became the starting left tackle heading into training camp.
After starting the season on a strong note, Simmons missed roughly one month for personal reasons, but he picked up where he left off when he returned for three games. Unfortunately, a fractured wrist suffered on Thanksgiving Day against the Dallas Cowboys landed him on the IR and ended his rookie season.
Simmons only played in eight games for Kansas City, but he proved enough to be the left tackle of the future and will play a key role as the team looks to rebound in 2026.
Entering 2025
Simmons entered the season with question marks about his health due to the patellar knee injury he suffered in 2024 at Ohio State. By training camp, Simmons was given clearance to play, and he immediately showed off his athletic ability and displayed traits the Chiefs have been lacking at offensive tackle for some time now.
Against established veterans in training camp and the preseason, Simmons more than held his own. With no red flags or caution tape, and the confidence of his coaches and teammates, Simmons was named the Week 1 starter and earned the responsibility of protecting quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ blind side.
Pass protection
The Chiefs have struggled to find consistency at left tackle for years, but Simmons instantly showed that he can be a high-level pass protector and compete with the best the game has to offer.
Simmons had his hands full early in his first career game against the Los Angeles Chargers, but here, he holds his own against future Hall of Fame edge rusher Khalil Mack. He finished with a solid performance against a formidable opponent, nearly unscathed, and had multiple snaps where he appeared to be in control of the powerful Chargers’ pass rush.
Against tough opposition, Simmons made a few rookie mistakes, but his athleticism and tenacity helped him recover.
Despite the mistakes, he was able to bounce back and challenge high-level competition.
As the weeks progressed, he continued to show progress with his pass protection, and specifically how he used his hands to thwart defenders. His feet were already a strength of his, but the development he showed with his hands in such a short period of time was remarkable.
It can take some tackles nearly a decade to master the snatch, but in less than eight weeks of live NFL action, Simmons was executing the technique at a high level. He does it here against the Denver Broncos.
The ability to drive and catch out of his stance has been immaculate since his college days, but the newfound ability to take a pass rusher’s momentum and use it against them defined his rookie season. Seeing the high-level development of a good player, going from a solid rookie into a potentially elite professional was one of the brightest spots the Chiefs had all season.
Very few rookie tackles can truly protect the franchise quarterback, but even fewer can make it look as effortless as Simmons did.
Run blocking and impact blocks
The Chiefs struck gold with Simmons as a pass blocker, but his potential to help the run game and make impact blocks is unlimited.
He was modest in situations where he is tasked with a simple base block. He does need to improve in this area, but it could simply be gaining strength as he ages.
Where he was most impressive in the ground game was working to the second level, showing off the athletic ability that enticed the Chiefs to draft him.
With immaculate footwork and incredible body control, he worked his way to the second level and created impactful blocks that set up big plays.
He also proved that he was one of the best athletes on the field on any given snap.
Very few tackles in the NFL possess the full package that Simmons has shown, and those that do are high-level established veterans. The Chiefs have a special player who will only grow as time goes on.
The bottom line
The 2025 season was a disaster for Kansas City. The team failed to qualify for the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade and star quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a brutal knee injury that ended his season prematurely.
The team has issues, but the offensive line is not one of them, especially at left tackle.
Simmons only played eight games, and there will be durability questions heading into 2026, but the snapshot he provided in 2025 was the highlight of the season.
Simmons is a thoroughbred, and in a short period of time, he displayed development that most players cannot make in an entire career.
The team has spent nearly half a decade trying to find stability at the left tackle position, and now they have found that stability on a rookie contract, nonetheless.
Simmons has plenty of areas to improve on, and he will continue to see an onslaught of high-level pass rushers through the course of his career.
Heavy is the head that wears the crown, but the next largest burden lies with the man entrusted with protecting his back.
Mahomes will be coming off a career-altering surgery, and the team will need Simmons to go from flashes of brilliance to a consistent force, determined to protect the franchise at all costs.
