Special teams coach Darrin Simmons enjoying Bengals' Super Bowl run

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If anyone can speak about the highs and lows of Cincinnati Bengals football it is Darrin Simmons. He has had a front row seat in 19 seasons as special teams coordinator.

Ever since Cincinnati beat Kansas City on Jan. 30 to secure its first Super Bowl appearance in 33 years, Simmons has been trying to break down the Los Angeles Rams' coverage and return units. But he's also reflected on the journey to finally get here.

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"I have had to pinch myself a lot of times," said Simmons, who has the current longest tenure with one team as a special teams coach. "It has been quite a journey. These last three weeks have been a long time coming, to say the least. I’m excited to be here. I really relish the opportunity to be a part of this big game."

Simmons arrived in 2003 after Marvin Lewis was hired as head coach to turn around a franchise that had experienced 12 straight losing seasons. Lewis would lead the Bengals to seven postseason trips in 16 seasons, but they could never break through with a playoff victory.

After Cincinnati went 6-25-1 during Zac Taylor's first two seasons, Cincinnati's road to a playoff spot appeared tougher than ever. But the Bengals have been one of the NFL's best stories of the past 10 years.

The Bengals won the AFC North with a 10-7 record, broke a 30-year playoff win drought in the wild-card round against Las Vegas before getting the first two road postseason victories in franchise history against Tennessee and Kansas City to advance to the Super Bowl.

Simmons has been able to enjoy this ride accompanying two players with the longest tenure on the Bengals — the ones he