Brian Simmons is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of North Carolina, and earned All-American honors. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals 17th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft, and he played professionally for the Bengals and New Orleans Saints of the NFL. Following his retirement from the NFL, Simmons was named the Northeast regional scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Simmons serves as the color analyst for the Tar Heel Sports Network football broadcasts.
In December of 2021, Simmons was named the second Head Football coach of the Windermere Prep Lakers after serving on the staff for a number of seasons. In his first season as the Lakers head coach, Simmons led the program to the school's first ever trip to the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) playoffs. In his second season, Simmons led the Lakers to their first winning season since 2018.
