Phil Simms

Phil Simms had the misfortune of playing quarterback in the same era and conference as Joe Montana. However, Simms still owns a pair of Super Bowl rings. He efficiently piloted the New York Giants to victory in Super Bowl XXI, beating John Elway. He also led Big Blue to a fine record in their 1990 championship season, but suffered an injury that kept him out of the playoffs that year. When he retired in 1994, Simms owned most of the Giants' franchise passing records. Even after hanging up his cleats, Simms remained ensconced in the game following a smooth transition to the broadcast booth. He worked with ESPN before moving to NBC, where his duties included broadcasting the Super Bowl, calling weightlifting at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, and working as a sideline reporter for NBA games. In 1998, Simms moved to CBS and became their lead broadcaster for football. Through his achievements on the field and his commentary in the booth, Simms has become one of the most respected and most visible personalities in football.

Born Phillip Martin Simms on November 3, 1954 in Lebanon, Kentucky, his family moved to nearby Louisville when he was still a young boy. He attended Southern High School in Louisville and played college football at Kentucky's Morehead State University. Despite coming out of a small football program, the relatively unknown Simms was selected by the Giants with the seventh overall pick in the 1979 draft, 75 picks before future legend, and rival, Joe Montana. Still, the move proved to be shrewd as Simms presided over a successful decade-and-a-half with the Giants, which came on the heels of 15 stagnant years out of the playoffs. Simms paid dividends in the 1986 season and was named MVP of Super Bowl XXI. He completed 22 of 25 passes to beat the Denver Broncos, a performance that remains one of the great quarterbacking efforts in Super Bowl history. In 1990, Simms had the Giants at 11-3 but suffered a broken foot that kept him out. The Giants continued an improbable run with backup Jeff Hostetler, narrowly beating the heavily favored Buffalo Bills 20-19 in Super Bowl XXV. Simms retired after 15 seasons with the Giants in which he tossed 199 touchdowns and amassed more than 33,000 passing yards. On September 4, 1995, the Giants retired his No. 11 jersey. In 2001, Peter King of Sports Illustrated named Simms the "most underrated" quarterback in NFL history. Moving from the gridiron to the booth, Simms became one of the leading announcers in sports. His work as the color analyst on CBS' lead broadcast team, with Greg Gumbel and subsequently with Jim Nantz, has established him as a Sunday institution. Simms even lent his voice to the Madden NFL 13 video game, along with Nantz. In 2005, Simms published Sunday Morning Quarterback: Going Deep on the Strategies, Myths, and Mayhem of Football, coauthored with Vic Carucci. Simms further proved his versatility by playing himself on the soap opera "As the World Turns" (CBS, 1956-2010), and the procedural drama "Criminal Minds" (CBS, 2005-) in 2007. He has also hosted "Inside the NFL" (HBO, 1977-2008; Showtime, 2008-). Simms married his wife Diana and they have three children: Deirdre, Christopher and Matthew. Both sons have played quarterback in the NFL. Chris played with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers among other teams, but a ruptured spleen suffered during a 2006 game seriously hampered his career. Matt Simms served as a backup with the New York Jets.