Who Are Josh Simmons’ Parents? Meet NFL OT’s MLB Player Father Nelson Simmons and Mother Ana Ma’afala

The world of professional football is more than just about raw talent! If we talk about players like  Josh Simmons, he has the mental and physical calibre to make it to the pros. However, it’s mostly the influences that come outside the locker room that set them apart. Josh, a 6’6″, 310-pound offensive tackle for Ohio State University, has everything in him to make him the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Initially attending San Diego State University, he excelled as a redshirt freshman as he started all 13 games at right tackle in 2022. Later, he transferred to Ohio State in 2023, making an impact under OSU’s offensive line coach, Justin Frye.

Despite a season-ending knee injury in 2024, he continues to show potential as a top-tier offensive tackle. And, it is truly the efforts of his parents, Ana Ma’afala and Nelson Simmons, that has helped him make it so far.

Who Are Josh Simmons’ Parents?

Josh’s mother, Ana Ma’afala, has remained his consistent support system. Born and raised in San Diego, she has helped him shape a resilient mindset since he was a kid. When Ana’s own mother, Tala’i, fell ill, Ana had to make personal sacrifices to be there for her family. Josh, in turn, stuck close to home as he chose to play for San Diego State University. And, he learnt to face challenges head-on from his mother.

On the other hand, Josh learnt the ABCs of sports from his father, Nelson Simmons. While he may not have had the longest MLB career, he certainly made an impact. As an outfielder for the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles, Nelson’s journey taught Josh various key lessons, i.e., to keep striving hard.

Drafted in the second round of the 1981 MLB Draft, Nelson showed his brilliance at various moments, including a remarkable .433 batting average over his first nine games. While his MLB career didn’t last as long as many expected, it certainly taught Josh to push himself despite the setbacks. Nelson played with the Detroit Tigers circa 1984–1985 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1987.

How have Josh Simmons’ parents played a significant role in their son’s NFL success?

When talking about his own career, as he says, “Those are NFL talent guys that offensive tackles really want to go against,” it reflects the value of perseverance that he learnt from his father. Even if Nelson’s MLB time was brief, his impact was massive.

Learning from his mother’s strength and father’s lessons, he is on his way to make a solid presence in this NFL draft. From what he learnt from his mother, Ana, he remarks, “It’s my job to go in there and attack — empty the tank every game,” reflecting Ana’s influence, as stated in Cleveland.com’s article from April 2023.

With family ties in both MLB and the NFL, Josh is indeed no stranger to athletic greatness. Even his uncle, Chris Fuamatu-Maʻafala, played as an NFL fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars. With such an upbringing, he has become the most exciting offensive tackle prospects in the 2025 draft.

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