Roll Call Tribute

Former Texas A&M All-America LB Simonini dies
(Bryan-College Station) Eagle Staff Report Oct 1, 2019

Former Texas A&M All-America linebacker Ed Simonini died Tuesday after a battle with cancer, according to the school.

The 65-year-old Simonini was named a consensus All-American and Lombardi Award finalist his senior season in 1975 when the Aggies led the NCAA in rushing defense and total defense.

Simonini was the Southwest Conference’s Defensive Player of the Year twice and made the SWC’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s.

Simonini led the Aggies in tackles three straight years and earned All-SWC honors each time.

He had 425 career tackles and he still owns the school’s freshman tackles record with 98 in 1972.

Simonini, who was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the third round of the 1976 NFL draft, played seven seasons in the NFL.

Simonini last week was named to the 2019 Southeastern Conference’s Football Legends class, which will be honored at events surrounding the SEC football championship game in Atlanta in December.

Simonini was inducted into the A&M Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982. Simonini along with Robert Jackson and Garth Ten Napel helped A&M adopt the moniker Linebacker U. with every starting linebacker from 1983 to ‘98 signing a professional contract.

Former Texas A&M defensive coordinator and head coach R.C. Slocum, who was an assistant starting in 1972 and became head coach in 1989, mentored all of them.

“I remember well when Ed first showed up at A&M,” Slocum said in a press release. “It was the first year that freshman were eligible to play on the varsity. Although he was undersized, he started and was a leader on our defense. He started for four years and got most of the awards one can get including All-American. His junior year we were number two in the nation on defense and his senior year we were the top-ranked defense in the nation. His play and leadership were instrumental in our success. Along with his success on the field, he was a very good student. In all of my years of coaching, Ed stands out as one of the best players that I was ever around. I have been in touch with him through his illness and he was a fighter to the end. He never lost his positive attitude. Ed will be missed by all that knew him.”

Simonini is survived by his wife, Karen, and their children, Anna and Nick.

Simonini earned his degree from Johns Hopkins as well as earning a master’s degree in civil engineering. After his playing career, he worked for the Hilti Company and was a field engineer in Dallas before becoming sales manager of the Southwest Region of the United States. He then headed operations in Latin America for the company.

There soon will be celebration of Simonini’s life. In lieu of flowers the family wants donations made in Simonini’s honor to the American Cancer Society.
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Moore Funeral Home - Southlawn Chapel death notice
9350 E. 51st
Tulsa, OK 74145
(918) 663-2233

Edward C. Simonini
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Feb 2, 1954 – Sep 30, 2019

Edward was born on February 2, 1954 and passed away on Monday, September 30, 2019.