The Chicago Bears acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons in a major trade with the Tennessee Titans on Thursday, making a serious upgrade to their defense ahead of another potential playoff run.

Amid his eighth NFL season, the four-time Pro Bowl selection held his first press conference with his new team on Friday. When asked about the Bears' popularity in Chicago, Simmons brought up the trash talk he had previously directed at quarterback Caleb Williams.

"I mean, my social media has been blowing up, so that tells me right there where you got the fans is into it. ... A couple years ago, I made a ...I jokingly commented about Caleb. I mean, I thought they were going to crash my Instagram with the comments that I got," he said, recalling how fans were criticizing him over his 2024 remarks.

"That's just the passion. When you have your fans really into it. When you have your fans supporting you even through the ups and downs. I mean, and this is the reason why we play the game," Simmons told reporters. "This is the reason I really enjoy doing what I do."

Williams was the Bears' No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Before Williams debuted as a rookie in the league, Simmons appeared on "The Rich Eisen Show" and trash-talked the Bears quarterback for having "painted nails."

"I can't wait to say that to him," Simmons said in June 2024 ahead of playing with the Titans against the Bears in Williams' debut.

"A game like Chicago, I'm sure [they're] thinking we 'bout to get beat bad. That also make me even talk more smack and boost me up a little more; I get into a different mode, as well. I'll be in a different mode that game," he said of that matchup.

Williams went on to have a winning debut with the Bears, who defeated Simmons' Titans 24-17 in Chicago. However, the rookie quarterback finished with only 93 passing yards. Simmons recorded two tackles, with teammates Harold Landry III and Sebastian Joseph-Day each sacking Williams in his debut.

During Friday's introductory press conference for the Bears, Simmons was asked if the previous joke he made came up at all when he met Williams as a teammate. He said his previous comments didn't come up when they met and that he shook Williams' hand after practice, before team meetings.

"I've been a fan of Caleb. Of course, being on the other side, having to play against him, I'm not gonna tell him that; I'm gonna talk as much smack as I can, but now he's on my team, and we're teammates now," Simmons said, adding, "Any teammate you ask about me, man, I have my teammate's back."

"When we on the same team on Sundays, I go to war for any of my guys in locker room," he said. "I hope Caleb would know that. Them comments a couple years ago ... It's all part of my game with the smack talk."

It's a much different story now that they're teammates in Chicago, rather than lining up on opposite sides of the ball. Simmons said he was looking forward to playing alongside Williams and helping Chicago make a playoff push this season.

The Bears visit the Seattle Seahawks for "Monday Night Football" on Monday, Nov. 2, providing a significant test as Chicago continues that push toward the playoffs.

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