Georgia high school coaching legend Jess Simpson is blending into life in the NFL.
Simpson, who led Buford High to seven state championships and three state runner-up finishes in his 12 years as their head coach, joined Dan Quinn’s staff as a defensive assistant in February.
After retiring from Buford High, he was briefly on the Georgia State staff before getting the offer from the Falcons.
“Man, it’s been a whirlwind,” Simpson told The Gwinnett Daily Post. “Obviously going from when I took that job at Georgia State less than a week after that last game at Buford, and then went through recruiting at Georgia State, it just kind of came out of the blue in February with DQ. So the last three months have been wide open trying to learn a play book, getting to know the coaches, getting to know the players. It’s been a great experience. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Simpson helps defensive line coach Bryant Young.
“It’s been real cool,” Falcons defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel said. “It’s been real cool seeing him with the guys as he makes that transition from high school to college for a little bit and then coming right into the league, I think he’s done an awesome job of just trying to pick up on the speed of the game.”
Simpson had to get an NFL course on the OTA rules and the allowable contact. He kidded that he was getting a lot of bruises from the players hitting the dummy pads he was holding.
“Football is football, like we always talk about, but being able to find your niche and find your groove is what we’ve been trying to help him with,” Manuel said. “He’s adjusting well trying to find his niche. He’s coming from being a head coach and now he’s just in his expertise, helping out and trying to make Bryant Young the best defensive line coach in the league. I think he’s done a great job at it.”
Simpson has been going with the flow.
“Understanding that he takes it with a grain of salt,” Manuel said. “Being that he was a head coach and knows no matter what, he takes it with a grain of salt. Things are going to happen. Not good all the time, so he has to understand how we can adjust and move forward. That’s the cool part about it.”
