“Happy Father’s Day to my role model. I pray daily I can be half the man you are. Thank you for everything, love ya,” wrote Justin Simmons on 2016 Father’s Day. Just a few weeks before, the Broncos had just drafted him in the NFL. It was a dream come true for the Simmons family.

They had their eldest son work hard all his life. And everyone was glad once he achieved his lifelong dream. It’s inspirational.

Who are Kimberly and Victor Simmons?

Justin Simmons’s father, Victor Simmons, played as a safety for the Martin County High School in Stuart, Florida before graduating in 1983. He also stayed at West Virginia Wesleyan for sometime where he met Kimberley Simmons. The couple later came back to Stuart and settled in. It was where Atlanta Falcons safety started playing football.

However, when he arrived at Martin County, the comparisons started. Obviously, it hurt his morale as he had a unique playing style. But at home, his father always motivated him to stick to his own style. It helped him achieve success as he later played in the NCAA for Boston College and in the NFL as well. Victor was overjoyed.

Though he had a busy schedule as a realtor with Keyes Real Estate, he often visited stadiums to cheer for his son. But not only football, Victor and Kimberly instilled great moral values, too. Since he had served in the United States Air Force, Justin Simmons and his brothers, Nathan and Tristan, learned the value of service to the nation.

Kimberly also made sure that the boys were always well-fed and taken care of. She also taught them Christian values, which the brothers are proud of. The 6′ 2″, 215 lbs NFL athlete displayed his love for his mother in a Mother’s Day IG post in 2015 with the caption, “Happy Mothers Day to my backbone. Love this woman more than anything in the world. ❤️”

Fast forward 8 years into his NFL career, the family received sad news. Victor had passed away. The 36-year-old player took his team to deal with it.

Justin Simmons tries to cope up after his father’s demise

On April 21, 2023, Victor passed away. It was a double blow for Justin Simmons as his grandmother & Victor’s mother Joyce Hobson-Simmons, had died just 8 days prior. On April 24, the Atlanta Falcons player posted photos of his father and wrote an emotional message, “Man I’m gonna miss you. I’ve never been one to share emotion much but..this one hurts.” People around him noticed that he missed his father.

Later, during the 2023 season, one of his close friends in the Broncos locker room, PJ Locke, found a unique way to cheer him up. He got customized cleats made by the local Denver artist Breanna Berry that had Victor’s portrait on one side and ‘I Love You‘ on the other side.

It also featured one line from his emotional IG post in April 2023 that read, “Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” Berry wrapped them in the Broncos’ blue and orange colors. It did help Justin Simmons to lighten up his heart.

Well, no one can really get over the loss of a father. And theirs was an ideal bond. It’s lovely. It’s heartwarming.