By Jim Kleinpeter, special to NewOrleansSaints.com
Cell phones rang, text chains pinged and tears flowed Friday at the news that longtime New Orleans Saints equipment manager Dan Simmons died in his hometown of St. Louis at age 78.
The man everyone called "Chief" was like a thread that ran through and connected current and former Saints players, coaches and organization staff members with his proficiency at his job and the caring attitude he took toward everyone he associated with.
The love and admiration poured out from anyone asked.
"Dan was THE best," Saints team legend Archie Manning said. "If I was going to sum up Dan, it was kindness. Such a humble, kind person. If everybody in the Saints organization could have done their job like Dan, we would have won a lot more championships."
Former Saints offensive tackle Stan Brock was one of his closest player friends and considered him a father figure from the start as a rookie in 1980.
"I loved that guy," Brock said. "When I got inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame, that's who I wanted, Dan and (former trainer) Dean Kleinschmidt were my presenters. He meant a lot to a lot of people, but really a lot to me.
"He cared so much about us as players. He took great pride at being with the Saints and doing things the right way. We were all like little kids. He played a lot of different roles. He was a friend and a father. He'd kick you in the ass when you needed it and pat you on the back when you needed that, too."
Simmons was a fixture in the organization through 858 preseason, regular season and playoff games and continued even after his 42 years of service (1973-2014) were up. Since retirement, he has served as an alumni/legends coordinator, assisting in the club's outreach efforts to involve former players with the organization and is also a club contact with the NFL's Legends Program, which is designed to help former NFL players connect with each other, their former teams and the league.
Former Saints kicker Morten Andersen called him a "connector on many levels" which made him perfect choice for the alumni/legends role. Andersen would know having been introduced to his wife of 28 years, Jennifer, by Simmons.
"He was the best; he was like a father to me when I came to the Saints in 1982," Andersen said. "I grew up with him. He was steady, he and (assistant equipment manager) Silky (Powell) behind that window. It just felt right, like a good pair of kicking shoes.
"We never called him Dan, always Chief. If you wanted the temperature of the team, or advice, you'd go to Chief. He gives the straight and narrow real quick, not sugar-coated. He wasn't mean about it, but very wise and really sweet."
In 2010, four years before he retired, Simmons was inducted into the Saints Hall of Fame. By then his reputation around the NFL was well-established. He and his staff twice won the Whitey Zimmerman Memorial Award, annually given to the NFL equipment staff that exceeds the usual demands to the position. In 2015, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the NFL Equipment Managers meeting.
"What a great man," said former Saints assistant athletic trainer Kevin Mangum. "He was a friend to a lot of people, a legend in the equipment manager profession and so well-respected by so many people not only with the Saints but throughout the NFL.
"We spent a lot of time together, gamedays and on the road, moving the equipment, loading the trucks, packing, setting up the training room. He set up the equipment room while I set up the training room. He had that pure dedication to the Saints, his family, one of the most dedicated hard-working individuals I've known."
Administrative director Jay Romig, the organization's longest serving employee who has worked in nearly every department, started as a summer assistant in the equipment and training rooms under Simmons and Kleinschmidt 48 seasons ago.
"I learned so much from him," Romig said. "He was awesome to work with, a great family guy. He was well-respected by players, coaches and staff for all the years he worked."
John Baumgartner, who succeeded Simmons, was mentored by him since joining the staff in 2003. Baumgartner's father, Steve, was yet another former Saints player who became great friends with Simmons and introduced the two.
"The No. 1 thing that comes to mind is his work ethic, his consistency day in day out, attention to detail," Baumgartner said. "The little things, how to be a professional. He did it for so long so obviously he was doing something right. I'm very, very fortunate and honored to have had the opportunity to learn under him."
MEMORIAL INFORMATION: Dan "Chief" Simmons memorial service will be held Friday, April 4. 9:30 a.m. wake (no viewing), 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Gerard Majella Church, 1969 Dougherty Ferry Road, Kirkwood, Mo., 63122. If you would like to send an arrangement it needs to be delivered Friday morning and can be sent to the address above.
Any memorial contributions in Dan's honor can be made to:
Team Gleason Foundation: https://teamgleason.app.neoncrm.com/forms/donate
Dogs For Our Brave: https://dogsforourbrave.networkforgood.com/projects/89881-dogs-for-our-brave
