Jerome Simpson

Simpson participated in football, basketball, and track while attending Reidsville High School in Reidsville, North Carolina. As a receiver in football, Simpson was an All-State selection as he led the Rams to consecutive state titles. In his senior season, Simpson won team MVP and set a championship record with 13 receptions for 133 yards and also added a 62-yard touchdown pass. He missed three games his final season, but still managed to total 96 receptions for 1,324 yards and 14 touchdowns, becoming the team's all-time receptions leader. He also played in the North Carolina Shrine Bowl and in the east–west annual game.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

In basketball, Simpson led the Rams to their first state basketball championship since 1995. As a senior, he scored 19 points in the title game and winning team MVP honors. He also ran on the state champion 4x400-meter relay team with a time of 3:21 in track.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

Jerome Simpson enrolled at Coastal Carolina University in 2004 and started all 11 games as a true freshman at receiver. In the season opener against Morehead State, Simpson recorded four catches for 59 yards and two scores in his collegiate debut. The following game, against Davidson, Simpson totaled 89 yards on six receptions for a touchdown. Against Charleston Southern University, Simpson recorded his first ever 100-yard receiving game. He finished the season with 26 catches for 419 yards and eight touchdowns and was honored as the Big South Conference Freshman of the Year.

Simpson started six out of eleven games as a sophomore. He was named second-team All-Big South and to the South Carolina All-Star Team. He led the team with 33 receptions for 527 yards and nine touchdowns, all single-season school records. In his best game of the season, a victory over James Madison, Simpson set a school record with 10 receptions for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Against Savannah State, Simpson set another school-record with a 60-yard reception for a touchdown.

In 2006, Simpson started in 10 of 12 games. He was named first-team All-Big South, first-team AP All-American[https://goccusports.com/sports/2018/5/24/trads-All-Americans-html.aspx All-Americans - Coastal Carolina University Athletics]. goccusports.com. Retrieved December 7, 2021. and South Carolina All-Star selections. Teaming with quarterback Tyler Thigpen, Simpson had 61 receptions for 1,077 yards and a Big South record 16 touchdowns, which were also school records. Against Georgia Southern, Simpson set a school record with 207 yards and two scores on only eight receptions. Against No. 3 Furman, he recorded 151 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown reception. In the school's first ever Division I-AA NCAA Football Playoff appearance, Simpson recorded 132 yards and two touchdowns against No. 1 Appalachian State. Simpson led the Big South with five games of 100 yards receiving or more.

In 2007, Simpson broke all school career receiving records while playing in all 11 games. He posted 41 receptions for 697 yards and 11 touchdowns, all lower than his totals from his junior year.

{{nfl predraft

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| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=http://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=56403&DraftYear=2008 |title=Jerome Simpson, Coastal Carolina, WR, 2008 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=October 6, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=8071 |title=Jerome Simpson, Combine Results, WR - Coastal Carolina (SC)|website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=October 6, 2021}}

}}

Jerome Simpson was selected in the second round, 46th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2008 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |title=2008 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2008/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He was signed to a four-year contract but did not have any receptions during limited playing time in 2009. Due to injuries to Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco, Simpson made his second career start in Week 16 of the 2010 season and had a breakout performance, catching 6 passes for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns. He followed it up with 12 catches, 124 yards, and a touchdown in a game against the Baltimore Ravens to end the season with 18 receptions.

In Week 16 of the 2011 season, Simpson did a front-flip over Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington to score a touchdown and landed on his feet.{{cite web|title=Simpson flips out mates|url=http://www.bengals.com/news/article-1/Simpson-flips-out-mates/8a64feac-f71b-47b4-bdf1-955f91c53ed9|work=bengals.com}} This move was also touted to be one of the best plays of the decade and was #1 on the year's top 10 plays.{{cite web|title=Move of the Decade|date=7 October 2018 |url=http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/bengals_jerome_simpson_pulls_off_the_td_flip_of_the_decade/8929228}}

Simpson signed with the Minnesota Vikings on April 24, 2012. The deal was worth $2 million over 1 year.{{cite web|last=Lourie|first=Steven|title=Minnesota Vikings sign WR Jerome Simpson|url=http://www.footballfanspot.com/jeromesimpsonvikings.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123075437/http://www.footballfanspot.com/jeromesimpsonvikings.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-01-23|access-date=2012-04-27}} He was suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.[http://minnesota.sbnation.com/2012/8/28/3274911/jerome-simpson-suspension-minnesota-vikings Jerome Simpson's Suspension Details Now Set] Simpson re-signed a one-year contract with the Vikings on March 12, 2013.{{cite web|last=Sessler|first=Marc|title=Jerome Simpson, Minnesota Vikings agree to contract|website=NFL.com |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/jerome-simpson-minnesota-vikings-agree-to-contract-0ap1000000149893}}

On March 14, 2014, Simpson re-signed a one-year contract with the Vikings. The Vikings released him on September 18.{{cite web|work=NFL.com|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/vikings-release-receiver-jerome-simpson-0ap3000000396842|title=Vikings release receiver Jerome Simpson|first=Marc|last=Sessler|date=September 18, 2014|access-date=2014-09-20}}

Simpson signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers on March 5, 2015.{{cite web|title=49ers sign WR Jerome Simpson to two-year contract |url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/49ers-sign-wr-jerome-simpson-two-year-contract |publisher=CSN Bay Area |access-date=7 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307141657/http://www.csnbayarea.com/49ers/49ers-sign-wr-jerome-simpson-two-year-contract |archive-date= 7 March 2015 }} Simpson was suspended for six games due to violating the leagues substance abuse policy stemming back to a 2014 arrest.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/13464004/jerome-simpson-san-francisco-49ers-suspended-6-games-violating-substance-abuse-policy|title=Jerome Simpson suspended 6 games|work=ESPN|date=August 19, 2015|first=Paul |last=Gutierrez|access-date=August 19, 2015}}

Simpson was activated by the 49ers on October 23, 2015.

On August 27, 2016, Simpson was released by the 49ers.{{cite web|title=49ers Announce Several Roster Moves|url=http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Announce-Several-Roster-Moves/328c48ba-0553-4973-bf71-05c3faacfbd7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022122401/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Announce-Several-Roster-Moves/328c48ba-0553-4973-bf71-05c3faacfbd7|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 22, 2016|website=49ers.com|date=August 27, 2016}}

In September 2011, police searched Simpson's Crestview Hills, Kentucky townhome after intercepting a package to be delivered to his home containing 2.5 pounds of marijuana. When police arrived at Simpson's home, Simpson's girlfriend asked if they had a search warrant. They did not have one. After the search warrant was issued, the police found 6 more pounds of marijuana, scales, and empty packages similar to the one they had intercepted. Simpson's teammate Anthony Collins was at the residence and was also questioned by the police. No arrests were made.{{cite web|title=Feds: Home of Bengals' Simpson a pot distribution center|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/feds-home-of-bengals-simpson-a-pot-distribution-center-09000d5d822750c8|work=NFL.com}} On January 19, 2012, Simpson was indicted in Covington, Kentucky for "Trafficking in more than eight ounces and less than five pounds of marijuana", a Class D felony, which carries a 1 to 5-year prison sentence if convicted. The NFL stated it would wait until the police investigation was complete to decide if it would discipline Simpson. On April 5, 2012, Simpson was sentenced to 15 days in jail, 200 hours of community service, and 3 years probation. He would also have to undergo drug testing and pay a $7,500 fine plus court costs.{{cite web|title=Jerome Simpson Begins Serving 15-day Sentence|url=http://www.wlwt.com/r/30842124/detail.html}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130222024738/http://www.vikings.com/team/roster/Jerome-Simpson/4cd22254-c15d-40b3-b690-cab6903fdb67 Minnesota Vikings bio]
• [http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/09000d5d82585399/All-Angles-Simpson-s-flip Simpson's flip over Daryl Washington]

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Reidsville, North Carolina

Category:Players of American football from North Carolina

Category:American football wide receivers

Category:Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football players

Category:Cincinnati Bengals players

Category:Minnesota Vikings players

Category:San Francisco 49ers players