Cody Simon

Cody Simon (born April 1, 2002) is an American professional football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Cody Simon

Simon talking to press ahead of the 2025 CFP National Championship.
No. 50 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(2002-04-01) April 1, 2002 (age 23) Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school:	St. Peter's (Jersey City)
College:	Ohio State
NFL draft:	2025: 4th round, 115th pick
Career history
Arizona Cardinals (2025–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
CFP national champion (2024) CFP National Championship Game Defensive MVP (2025) Rose Bowl Game Defensive MVP (2025) First-team All-Big Ten (2024)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life and high school

Simon attended St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City, New Jersey. As a junior, he totaled 89 tackles with 13.5 being for a loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, and two forced fumbles.^[1] Coming out of high school, Simon was ranked as the number four player in the state of New Jersey, and as the tenth best outside linebacker in the country.^[2] Simon committed to play college football at Ohio State University.^[1]

College career

As a freshman in 2020 Simon primarily played on special teams where he racked up four tackles.^[3][4] In 2021, he recorded 54 tackles with 2.5 going for a loss, a sack, and an interception.^[5] In 2022, Simon totaled 32 tackles with 5.5 going for a loss, two sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble.^[6] In week 4 of the 2023 season, Simon tallied two tackles, including a huge tackle on fourth down to stop quarterback Sam Hartman from getting a first down, as he helped the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14.^[7] In week 8, Simon notched a team-leading eight tackles in a win over Purdue.^[8]

In the 2024 season, Cody Simon served as a graduate student linebacker for the Ohio State Buckeyes, contributing significantly to the team's defense.

Simon was appointed as a team captain and honored with the "Block O" jersey, a recognition awarded to players exemplifying leadership, toughness, and character.

Throughout the season, Simon led the team with 112 total tackles, including 51 solo tackles and 61 assisted tackles . He also recorded 7 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 7 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble.

In the College Football Playoff, Simon's performance was notable. He registered 11 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 tackles for loss in the Rose Bowl against Oregon . In the National Championship game against Notre Dame, Simon recorded 8 tackles and was named the defensive MVP of the game.

For his contributions during the season, Simon received several honors. He was named to the First Team All-Big Ten and was awarded the Big Ten Medal of Honor, recognizing his excellence in both athletics and academics.

Simon concluded his collegiate career with cumulative statistics of 121 solo tackles, 129 assisted tackles, 10 sacks, and 1 interception over five seasons.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in (1.88 m)	229 lb (104 kg)	31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m)	9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m)	4.59 s	1.54 s	2.59 s	4.30 s	7.19 s	33.5 in (0.85 m)	10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)	21 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[9][10][11]

Simon was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round, 115th overall, of the 2025 NFL draft.^[12]

Personal life

Simon hails from an athletic family: his dad Mike played rugby at Army, his mom Amy ran track and field at the University of Michigan, and his brother Shayne is currently a linebacker for the DC Defenders.^[13]