Corey Simon

Natasha Givens

​

(m. 2001)​

Corey Simon
Member of the Florida Senate from the 3rd district
Incumbent
Assumed office November 8, 2022
Children	1
Education	Florida State University
Website	https://simonforflorida.com/
American football career
No. 90, 97, 96
Position:	Defensive tackle
Personal information
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
Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2004) Indianapolis Colts (2005–2006) Tennessee Titans (2007)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLI) Pro Bowl (2003) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2000) BCS National Championship (1999) Consensus All-American (1999) ACC Brian Piccolo Award (1998) 2× First-team All-ACC (1998, 1999)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 246 Sacks: 32.0 Forced fumbles: 9 Fumble recoveries: 3
Player stats at PFR

Corey Jermaine Simon Sr. (born March 2, 1977) is an American politician and former professional football player. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the Florida State Senator from the 3rd district since 2022. He played as a defensive tackle for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, earned consensus All-American honors, and was a member of a BCS National Championship team. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles 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.

Early life

Simon was born in Pompano Beach, Florida. He attended Blanche Ely High School, 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.

College career

Simon accepted an athletic scholarship to attend Florida State University, where he played for coach Bobby Bowden's Seminoles teams 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. ^[1] 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.

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

Simon in 2004

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. ^[2] 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, ^[3] 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. ^[4]

Indianapolis Colts

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 August 4. ^[5]

Tennessee Titans

On August 28, 2007, the Tennessee Titans signed Simon. ^[6] On October 25, Simon announced that he was retiring from professional football after eight seasons in the NFL because of polyarthritis. ^[7]

NFL career statistics

Legend
	Won the Super Bowl
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Year	Team	GP	Tackles				Fumbles		Interceptions
			Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	FF	FR	Int	Yds	Avg	Lng	TD	PD
2000	PHI	16	52	38	14	9.5	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	3
2001	PHI	16	47	36	11	7.5	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	3
2002	PHI	14	40	33	7	2.0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3
2003	PHI	16	40	32	8	7.5	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	2
2004	PHI	16	32	26	6	5.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
2005	IND	13	34	25	9	0.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2
2006	IND	0	did not play
2007	TEN	4	1	0	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total [8]		95	246	190	56	32.0	9	3	0	0	0	0	0	14

Political career

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. ^[9] 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. ^[9] Simon had the backing and was recruited by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, ^[9] Senate President Kathleen Passidomo ^[9] and Senator Ben Albritton, ^[10] due to his association with Florida State University football. Simon canceled a debate with the Tallahassee Democrat and the League of Women Voters, labeling them a "liberal farce". ^[11] Simon also accused Ausley and the Florida Democratic Party of funding racist advertisements 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 Minority Leader Lauren Book. Simon campaigned heavily against votes Ausley made during her time in the Florida Legislature such as voting against the Fairness in Women's Sports Act (SB 1028) which specifies that an athletic team or sport that is designated for females, women, or girls may not be open to students of the male sex, based on the student’s biological sex listed on the student’s official birth certificate at the time of birth. ^[12] Simon also repeatedly 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". ^[12] On November 8, 2022, Simon defeated Ausley in the general election with 53% of the vote. ^[13] Simon is the first African American Republican State Senator from Florida since Reconstruction. ^[13]

Electoral history

2022

Florida Senate District 3 – General Election (2022) ^[14]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Corey Simon	113,477	53.0%
	Democratic	Loranne Ausley (incumbent)	100,696	47.0%
Total votes			214,173	100%
	Republican gain from Democratic

Personal life

In 2001, Simon married Natasha Givens. ^[15] Together, the couple have a son, Corey Jr. (born 2003). ^[16] He lives in Tallahassee. ^[17]

References

1. 2011 NCAA Football Records Book, Award Winners, National Collegiate Athletic Association, Indianapolis, Indiana, p. 11 (2011). Retrieved June 25, 2012.
2. "2000 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
3. "DY Simon is tagged by Eagles". Tampa Bay Times. February 11, 2005. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
4. Pasquarelli, Len (August 29, 2005). "Denfensive tackle become unrestricted free agent". ESPN. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
5. "Colts terminate Corey Simon's contract". NFL.com. August 4, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
6. "Titans sign former Colt DT Simon". NFL.com. August 28, 2007. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
7. Walker, Teresa M. (October 26, 2007). "Titans' Corey Simon announces retirement". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
8. "Corey Simon Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
9. Call, James (June 14, 2022). "Former FSU football star hopes to ride 'a really big red wave' over Sen. Loranne Ausley". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
10. Johnson, David (June 14, 2022). "Former FSU and NFL standout Corey Simon to run for Florida office". WCTV. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
11. Call, James (October 14, 2022). "Election denialism and 'racist implications': Ausley and Simon on the attack over attack ads". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
12. Call, James (October 28, 2022). "Ausley vs. Simon: Amid a GOP ad barrage, Florida Senate Democrats bank on 'personal' touch". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
13. Crowder, Valerie (November 8, 2022). "Republican Corey Simon defeats Sen. Ausley in SD3 race". WFSU News. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
14. "Florida Department of State - Election Results".
15. "Media Alert - Corey Simon". nfl.info. March 2, 2001. Retrieved December 23, 2022.
16. Kelly, Kevin (January 13, 2003). "Eagles have Jets to thank". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2003. Retrieved February 27, 2023. In addition to sacking Michael Vick in Philadelphia's 20-6 win against the Falcons, the Florida State product became a father when wife Natasha gave birth to a boy, Corey Jr., at 5:30 a.m. "It was the best day of my life," Simon said. "You can throw the game out. My son being born was the best day of my life. Winning that game was whipped cream on top of it, just icing on the cake. When I went home and saw my wife and kid, it put things in perspective. Life is bigger than wins and losses."
17. Ogles, Jacob (February 15, 2023). "Corey Simon endorses Evan Power for Florida GOP Chair". Florida Politics. Retrieved February 27, 2023.

External links

• Official website of Corey Simon
• Media related to Corey Simon at Wikimedia Commons