Corey Simon
Corey Simon (born March 2, 1977) is an American Republican politician and former professional football player serving as the Florida State Senator from District 3 since 2022.[1][2] Born in Pompano Beach, Florida, Simon earned a B.S. in information studies from Florida State University in 1999, where he starred as a defensive tackle, serving as team captain and earning consensus All-American honors in his senior year.[1][3] He played eight seasons in the National Football League as a defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2004), Indianapolis Colts (2005), and Tennessee Titans (2006).[4] Following his football career, Simon focused on community service and leadership roles, founding Corey's Kids, a local youth mentorship program, and serving as president of Big Bend Pop Warner while volunteering as a youth sports coach.[5][1] Appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2020, he led Volunteer Florida as CEO until 2022, promoting statewide volunteerism and community engagement.[6][7] Simon also served on the Florida Children and Youth Cabinet, appointed in 2021, addressing issues affecting young people.[8][1] In the Senate, representing a rural North Florida district encompassing counties such as Dixie, Franklin, Gadsden, and others, he was reelected in 2024, continuing his emphasis on education, community protection, and conservative values derived from his personal background as the son of a single working mother.[5][9]Early Life and Education
Family Upbringing and Early Influences
Corey Simon was born on March 2, 1977, in Boynton Beach, Florida, and raised primarily in the Pompano Beach area by his single mother, who worked full-time as a deli manager at Publix supermarket.[4][10] As an only child in a single-parent household, Simon grew up in public housing projects amid economic challenges, an environment that exposed him to the daily struggles of working-class families.[11] His mother's relentless work ethic served as a primary influence, providing stability through her long hours and instilling in Simon a deep appreciation for perseverance and self-reliance. Simon has publicly attributed his drive to overcome adversity to this upbringing, noting how his mother's sacrifices shaped his understanding of financial and familial hardships faced by many in similar circumstances.[10][12] The absence of a father figure and the tough neighborhood dynamics further emphasized the importance of personal responsibility and athletic discipline as pathways out of hardship, motivating Simon's early focus on football as a means of advancement. This foundational experience, devoid of privilege, informed his later emphasis on opportunity and community resilience in public life.[11][12]High School Athletics and Academic Path
Simon attended Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he graduated with a diploma in 1995.[13][14] He participated in football as a defensive lineman for the school's Tigers team, emerging as a standout player during his senior year in the 1994 season.[11] That year, Simon earned recognition as the Miami Herald Defensive Player of the Year across Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, reflecting his dominance on the defensive line.[11] He was also selected to the USA Today All-USA team, marking him as one of the top high school prospects nationally.[11] These honors underscored his recruitment profile as a consensus All-American defensive lineman, drawing interest from major college programs.[15] Initially signing a letter of intent with the University of Georgia, Simon was released from his commitment in August 1995 amid reported academic or eligibility concerns at Georgia, allowing him to enroll immediately at Florida State University and begin classes that month.[16] This transition facilitated his academic path into collegiate athletics, though detailed records of his high school GPA or specific coursework are not publicly documented beyond his qualification for Division I eligibility.[16]Collegiate Career at Florida State University
Corey Simon enrolled at Florida State University and played defensive tackle for the Seminoles football team from 1996 to 1999.[17] Originally recruited from Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida, after initially committing to the University of Georgia, he contributed to a defense that emphasized disruptive interior line play during an era of FSU dominance in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).[17] Over his career, Simon amassed 193 tackles, 44 tackles for loss (TFL)—a school record at the time—11 sacks, and three forced fumbles, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Seminoles' front four.[18] In the 1999 season, Simon served as the defensive leader for Florida State's undefeated national championship team, which went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 ranked squad and defeated Virginia Tech 46–29 in the BCS National Championship Game on January 3, 2000.[17] [19] He recorded 84 tackles, a league-leading 21 TFL, four sacks, and one interception that year, surpassing the single-season FSU record for tackles by a defensive lineman previously held by Ron Simmons.[17] [20] His disruptive presence helped anchor a defense that allowed just 9.6 points per game, contributing to the program's second national title in five years.[18] Simon earned first-team All-ACC honors in both 1998 and 1999, along with the 1998 ACC Brian Piccolo Award for courage and sportsmanship.[17] As a senior, he received consensus All-American recognition and was a finalist for the Outland Trophy (top interior lineman) and Lombardi Award (top lineman or linebacker).[17] [21] His collegiate performance led to his selection as the sixth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.[21]| Season | Games Played | Tackles | TFL | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 8 | 37 | 6 | 2 |
| 1998 | 12 | 65 | 16 | 5 |
| 1999 | 11 | 84 | 21 | 4 |
| Career | 32 | 193 | 44 | 11 |
Professional Football Career
NFL Draft and Philadelphia Eagles Tenure
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Corey Simon in the first round, sixth overall, of the 2000 NFL Draft out of Florida State University, where he had excelled as a defensive tackle.[14][4] As a rookie in 2000, Simon started 15 games and recorded 9 sacks, breaking the Eagles' single-season rookie sack record previously set by Seth Joyner with 8 in 1988.[22] He earned Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie honors for his performance, contributing to a defense that helped the team improve to a 11-5 record and reach the playoffs.[14] Over his five seasons with the Eagles from 2000 to 2004, Simon appeared in 71 games, starting all of them, and amassed 270 tackles and 32 sacks.[23] His tenure coincided with the team's resurgence under head coach Andy Reid, including three NFC East titles and a berth in Super Bowl XXXIX following the 2004 season, where Simon started and recorded 4 tackles.[23] In 2003, he earned his lone Pro Bowl selection after leading the team with 9 sacks and 47 tackles.[14] Simon became a cornerstone of the Eagles' defensive line, often lining up alongside players like Hugh Douglas and later Jevon Kearse, and his disruptive presence helped anchor a unit that ranked among the league's top defenses in sacks and points allowed during his peak years.[23] He departed as an unrestricted free agent in March 2005, signing with the Indianapolis Colts after the Eagles prioritized other defensive investments.[24]Stints with Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans
Simon signed a multiyear contract with the Indianapolis Colts on September 1, 2005, following his release from the Philadelphia Eagles earlier that offseason.[25] In the 2005 season, he appeared in 13 games, starting all 13, and contributed to the Colts' defensive line amid their 14-2 regular-season record.[24] His performance included 24 tackles and 5.5 sacks, helping bolster the team's run defense as they advanced to Super Bowl XLI, which the Colts won 29-17 over the Chicago Bears on February 4, 2007.[14] Simon missed the entire 2006 season due to an undisclosed ailment diagnosed after signing a five-year, $30 million extension, during which the Colts repeated as AFC South champions but he provided no on-field contributions.[26] The Colts terminated his contract on August 4, 2007, after he failed a physical at training camp, citing his inability to participate effectively.[27] On August 28, 2007, Simon signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, aiming to revive his career as a run-stuffing defensive tackle.[26] He played in four games that season without starting, recording limited statistics including three tackles and no sacks, as the Titans started 5-0 before his involvement tapered off.[24] On October 25, 2007, Simon announced his retirement from the NFL after eight seasons, citing ongoing health issues and a desire to transition from professional football. His brief Titans stint yielded no significant achievements, marking the end of his playing career with a total of 17 games across both late-career teams but minimal impact compared to his earlier Pro Bowl form.[14]Career Statistics, Achievements, and Retirement
Corey Simon played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a defensive tackle, appearing in 102 games with 79 starts across stints with the Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2004), Indianapolis Colts (2005–2006), and Tennessee Titans (2007).[14] His career totals included 232 combined tackles (190 solo), 32 sacks, 9 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and no interceptions.[28] With the Eagles, he amassed the bulk of his production, including 24 sacks over five seasons, contributing to the team's consistent playoff appearances from 2000 to 2004.[23]| Year | Team | Games Played | Starts | Tackles (Solo) | Sacks | Forced Fumbles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 38 | 2.5 | 1 |
| 2001 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 45 | 5.5 | 2 |
| 2002 | PHI | 15 | 13 | 36 | 2.0 | 1 |
| 2003 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 42 | 7.0 | 2 |
| 2004 | PHI | 16 | 16 | 29 (est.) | 7.0 | 1 |
| 2005 | IND | 15 | 1 | 10 | 1.0 | 1 |
| 2006 | IND | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 | TEN | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | - | 102 | 79 | 190 | 32.0 | 9 |