| Number: | 53 |
| Position: | Linebacker |
| Birth Date: | 3 August 1943 |
| Birth Place: | Elizabethtown, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 4 |
| Weight Lbs: | 245 |
| High School: | Stephen F. Austin (TX) |
| College: | Georgia Tech |
| Draftyear: | 1965 |
| Draftround: | 2 |
| Draftpick: | 26 |
| Afldraftyear: | 1965 |
| Afldraftround: | 5 |
| Afldraftpick: | 40 (by the Buffalo Bills)[1] |
| Pastteams: | |
| Highlights: | |
| Statlabel1: | Games played |
| Statvalue1: | 44 |
| Pfr: | SimmDa20 |
David Alan Simmons (August 3, 1943 – November 7, 1994) was a professional American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Georgia Tech.
Simmons attended Stephen F. Austin High School, where he played as a fullback. He accepted a football scholarship from Georgia Tech where he played at center and linebacker.
Simmons was selected in the second round (26th overall) of the 1965 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was also selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round (40th overall) of the 1965 AFL Draft. He was a backup linebacker and played on special teams. In 1966, he injured his ribs while playing against the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth game of the season and was placed on the injured reserve list.
He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 1967 NFL expansion draft.[2] He was a part of franchise's inaugural season and played in eleven games. On August 15, 1968, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a fourth round draft choice (#102-Bob Hudspeth).[3]
In 1968, after trading the main backup at linebacker Harold Hays, the Dallas Cowboys acquired Simmons and Jackie Burkett for depth purposes.[4] He appeared in 13 games as a backup linebacker. He was released in 1969.
In 1969, he was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was released on August 11.[5]
Simmons was an ordained Baptist minister. He helped to establish King's Arrow Ranch for children in Lumberton, Mississippi. He started his personal ministry in Little Rock, Arkansas.[6] He wrote the books "Dad the Family Coach" with the foreword provided by Tom Landry, "Dad the Family Mentor" with the foreword provided by Howard Hendricks and "Dad the Family Counselor". On November 7, 1994, he died in a one-car accident in Tennessee, while traveling to Atlanta.