Imagine a gunslinger staring down the barrel at High Noon, but instead of a dusty Western town, it’s Arrowhead Stadium. Justin Simmons, the NFL’s interception king since 2016, has spent nine years loading his six-shooter with 32 picks—six of them aimed squarely at Patrick Mahomes. Now, as free agency’s last elite safety, Simmons faces a choice: join the dynasty he’s spent a career battling or double down on the rivalry that defines him.

The plot thickened Tuesday when Simmons sat with Kay Adams on Up & Adams. “I want to be the team that beats them [the Chiefs],” he said, channeling the grit of ’85 Bears defense. “I’ve always been so publicly against Kansas City, and it’s because they’re a really good team. It’s not like a true, ‘Hey, I just I want to beat them.’ It’s just ingrained in me to beat them.” But he left a crack in the door.

“Am I shutting that door? Am I closing it? No,” Simmons said. For a player with zero playoff snaps, the allure of Kansas City’s three Lombardi trophies is real. However, Simmons’ Broncos legacy—eight years of AFC West trench wars—binds him to a simpler code: Beat the Chiefs. Always. Since Mahomes took the league by storm in 2018, Simmons has been his kryptonite. Six interceptions—more than any defender—against a QB who averages just 10 picks a season. But team success?

Brutal. Simmons’ Broncos and Falcons went 1-13 against Mahomes. Last year’s clash in Atlanta? Classic Simmons: a pick, but another L. The Chiefs’ safety vacancy—after Justin Reid’s exit—makes logical sense. But Simmons’ heart isn’t wired for truces…

“Honestly, I feel the exact same way [as Josh Jacobs],” he said, referencing the Raiders-turned-Packer RB who spurned KC. For a 31-year-old chasing a ring, this isn’t just business. It’s personal. And while Kansas City lingers, Philadelphia swoops in.

The Eagles’ trade of C.J. Gardner-Johnson left a gaping hole at safety—one Simmons could fill. Reuniting with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, his Denver mentor, is tempting.

Simmons’ Safety dance: Eagles in the spotlight

“Going to Philly with Vic, you know exactly what you’re getting out of me,” Simmons said. “And I know exactly what I’m getting out of them because I’ve been in the system.” Under Fangio, from 2019 to 2021, Simmons earned two All-Pro nods. And Philly’s title-ready roster? That’s the icing on the cake. But Atlanta isn’t dead. Simmons praised Coach Raheem Morris’s “top-notch” culture, yet their 23rd-ranked defense hints at a rebuild. Hence, Philly’s “Win Now” billboard shines brighter.

Philadelphia’s pitch is clear. Fangio’s scheme needs a savvy QB in the secondary, and Simmons’ 62 tackles and two picks in 2024 prove he’s still got gas. “I love what they have going on with [Reed] Blankenship and rest of the supporting cast there, so I don’t know. It’s interesting,” Justin Simmons noted. But CJ’s shoes? Difficult to fill in.

The Eagles’ Super Bowl pedigree matters. So does avoiding 2024’s late-signing chaos. “But a lot of the pros is building that rapport, especially when you’re not with the team and you haven’t necessarily played with a lot of those guys,” Simmons stressed. Philly’s early offseason moves could seal the deal. Meanwhile, Washington lurks too. Dan Quinn’s Commanders, fresh off a 12-5 surge, intrigue Simmons. “Washington’s very, very, very intriguing too, and I love Jayden Daniels,” he said. But Philly’s trophy case and Fangio’s blueprint hold weight.

Justin Simmons stands at a crossroads. Chase rings with Patrick Mahomes? Or fuel the fire that’s driven him since 2016? His 32 interceptions scream “contender,” but his heart whispers “rival.” As philosopher George Patton once said, “If a man does his best, what else is there?” Simmons’s best might mean planting his flag in Philly, aiming to dethrone KC from the NFC throne. Or, against all odds, giving Atlanta one last ride. Either way, his saga embodies NFL free agency’s soul: loyalty, ambition, and the hunger to leave a mark.