Phil Simms

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Phil Simms
Date of birth	November 3, 1955
Place of birth	Louisville, Kentucky
Position(s)	Quarterback
College	Morehead State
NFL Draft	1979 / Round 1/ Pick 7
Pro Bowls	2
Statistics	Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1979-1993	New York Giants

Phillip Martin Simms (born November 3, 1955, in Lebanon, Kentucky) is a former quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League and currently a television sportscaster for the CBS network. He is also the father of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms.

[edit] Early Life and NFL Career

Simms grew up in Louisville and started his NFL career when drafted out of Morehead State University,in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft, by the New York Giants. In an era of free agency, Simms is one of the few great players to remain on the same team for his entire career.

On Draft Day, when Simms' name was called, he was booed loudly by Giants fans, something he would get used to in his early Giant years. In his rookie year, he had some growing pains but still he led the team to a 6-4 record as a starter, threw for 1,743 yards and 13 touchdown passes and was named to the NFL-All Rookie Team.

In 1984, after 6 years of injuries and a less than stellar offensive supporting cast, Simms finally emerged as a team offensive leader. He passed for 4,044 yards and 22 touchdown passes and lead the Giants to a playoff berth. The next year, he passed for 3,829 yards and 22 touchdown passes and lead the Giants to 10 victories, the most for a Giants team since 1963. In 1986, he passed for 3,487 yards and 21 touchdown passes in a memorable season for the Giants as they won 14 games. 1 of those 14 wins came at a Giants-Vikings game, in a game that Simms says was his favorite game. He completed a key fourth down pass late in the game to set up a game-winning field goal that gave the Giants a 22-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

Many consider Simms' performance in Super Bowl XXI, when the Giants met the Denver Broncos, to be the best ever played by a quarterback. Although the Giants had a legendary defense, their offense was matched by John Elway and the Broncos. Despite that, Simms went 22 for 25 for 268 yards, setting a Super Bowl record for accuracy and passer rating with a rating of 150.9. In addition, he threw 3 touchdown passes. His record for passer rating was not just a Super Bowl record, it was also an NFL postseason record.

Two of the most famous plays from the game were the flea flicker to Phil McConkey, and the touchdown pass caught by McConkey off of the fingertips of Giants tight end, Mark Bavaro. The Giants defeated the Broncos 39-20, and Simms was named MVP. He is credited for being the first to use the phrase "I'm going to Disneyland!"/"I'm going to Walt Disney World Resort!" following a championship victory. (Disney produces two versions of each TV commercial.)

Simms was selected to the Pro Bowl in 1985 and 1993. In 1985 he earned the honor of Pro Bowl MVP; in 1993 he led the NFC in passing efficiency. Phil Simms was part of two Super Bowl championship teams. Although sidelined by a broken foot, he was part of the victorious 1990 Giants Super Bowl team. In his 14 seasons with the Giants, Simms completed 2,576 out of 4,647 passes for 33,462 yards and 199 touchdowns. He added 349 carries for 1,252 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground. Simms owns virtually all major New York Giants passing records.

[edit] Retirement and Announcing Career

After his retirement as a player in 1994, Simms went on to join NBC's lead broadcast crew, teaming with Dick Enberg and Paul Maguire on that network's coverage of Super Bowl XXX and Super Bowl XXXII. In 1998 he moved to CBS, teaming first with Greg Gumbel and currently with Jim Nantz on the lead broadcast team. He is a legend in the minds of Giants fans, and his jersey #11 has been retired by the team. Since he has been retired for more than 5 years, he is eligible for selection into the Pro Football Hall of Fame; he has yet to be inducted, however.

Prior to the 2006 election campaign, some bloggers suggested that Simms seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator from New Jersey, comparing his appeal to former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley. The entry of Thomas Kean, Jr. to the 2006 senate race ended this speculation.

Phil is married to Diana, and they have three children: Chris Simms, Deirdre and Matthew.