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Longtime Saints Equipment Manager Dan Simmons Passes Away at 78

Dan Simmons, who dedicated over 40 years to serving as the equipment manager for the New Orleans Saints, has passed away, as confirmed by the team. He was 78 years old.

Simmons was in his hometown of St. Louis at the time of his death.

Known affectionately as “Chief,” Simmons was a beloved figure within the organization, managing the team’s equipment operations for an impressive 42 years before retiring in 2014. After his retirement, he became recognized as the longest-serving employee in the history of the Saints, and he spent an additional ten years as the team’s alumni and legends coordinator.

Saints Owner Gayle Benson issued a heartfelt statement on behalf of the organization, expressing condolences to Simmons’ family.

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Benson stated, “Our thoughts are with Elaine and the Simmons family, as we have suffered a significant loss with the passing of Dan. He played an integral role in the daily operations of the equipment room and locker room.” She noted that Simmons was immensely proud to be a New Orleans Saint and positively impacted the lives of countless players, coaches, and staff throughout his tenure, contributing greatly to the franchise. “He will be greatly missed.”

In addition to his contributions to the Saints, Simmons was a proud veteran who served in the Navy during the Vietnam War.

Former Saints quarterback Archie Manning praised Simmons, describing him as “the very best.” In a statement shared with the media, Manning remarked, “Dan was the best, just the very best. He was so kind and sweet and humble. He just did his job and never sought attention. If everyone with the Saints had done their jobs as well as Chief did when I played, we would have won Super Bowls.”

Throughout his extensive career, Simmons was involved in a total of 858 games for the Saints, including preseason, regular season, and postseason matchups. Notably, he was the head equipment manager during the team’s historic 2009 season when they secured their first Super Bowl championship by defeating the Indianapolis Colts.

Simmons is survived by his wife, Elaine, along with their three children and four grandchildren.

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