New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh broke NFL code by calling the Tennessee Titans’ owner in an attempt to broker a trade for Jeffrey Simmons.

On Thursday, the Titans sent All-Pro defensive tackle Simmons to the Chicago Bears for a huge package that includes a pair of future first-round picks. He is the first defensive tackle in the common draft era to be traded for multiple first-round draft picks.

Simmons has spent his entire NFL career with the Titans after being drafted in the first round in 2019. Over eight seasons, the 29-year-old has tallied 46.5 sacks, 72 tackles for loss and 96 quarterback hits, establishing himself as a premier presence along the defensive line.

The Titans insisted they had no intention to trade Simmons until general manager Mike Borgonzi received a call from Bears GM Ryan Poles on Wednesday night. 48 hours earlier, Harbaugh called to try and make a deal with the Titans.

But there was just one issue: Harbaugh didn’t call the right number. Instead, the former Super Bowl champion called Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk directly in an attempt to trade for the All-Pro defensive tackle.

Harbaugh made the odd move to call the Titans’ controlling owner after Giants GM Joe Schoen had previously reached out to Borgonzi, who told him and other inquiring teams that they wouldn’t trade Simmons. Ultimately, Harbaugh got the same message from Strunk as Schoen got from Borgonzi.

According to The Athletic, one GM insisted Harbaugh’s move violated a code amongst primary football decision-makers. Traditionally, these officials will only deal with each other.

Borgonzi has been answering calls for Simmons over the past two seasons, but has never done so particularly seriously. Simmons was considered a franchise cornerstone; in June, the Titans signed him to a three-year extension worth $105.9 million, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in NFL history.

But after a disappointing 1-6 start, the Titans held a meeting on Tuesday and decided to seriously contemplate offers for Simmons. Poles swooped in, picking up the phone to call his former Kansas City Chiefs colleague.

In the end, the Bears sent a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 first-round pick, and a 2027 fourth-round pick to Tennessee in exchange for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round selection. Poles secured his game-wrecking pass rusher while giving Tennessee the tools to accelerate its rebuild.

“I honestly didn't think it would ever happen,” Poles admitted to reporters. “So when that window kind of opened where it was a possibility, and they had to work their process as well, it happened pretty fast.

“It was a late call and happened in the early morning.”

Simmons will make his debut when the 5-2 Bears travel to the 4-3 Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football on Nov. 2. Meanwhile, Harbaugh’s Giants have to look elsewhere in the market while on their bye week.