Impact Of A Scholarship: Geroy Simon

For someone who originally wanted to play college basketball, Geroy Simon went on to have quite the college football career. 

The three-sport athlete from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, also a standout track and field athlete, became one of the greatest wide receivers in Maryland football’s program history. His career marks from 1993-96 speak for themselves. 

Simon ranks second all-time in receptions (185) and sixth in receiving yards (2,059). During his All-ACC season of 1994, he set a school record and then-ACC mark for most receptions in a season with 77, which currently stands third all-time. He holds the school record for receptions in a game with 16, set against Florida State in 1995. Simon’s 891 receiving yards in 1994 was also the third-most in Maryland history following that season, and currently ranks seventh all-time.

The Terrapin great was recruited to College Park by then offensive coordinator and O-line coach Dan Dorazio. He says Maryland showed the most interest in him, and his decision to become a Terp was finalized on his first official visit to the university. 

“I just fell in love with the campus and the head coach, Mark Duffner,” Simon said. “It was something that as soon as I got here, I knew this is where I wanted to be, and this was a place for me.”

Simon’s athleticism and the Terps’ run-and-shoot offense created video game numbers. Still, the pairing didn’t translate to team success. Maryland went 17-27 during his four-year career and never finished a season above .500. However, he says wins and losses can’t quantify the lessons and impact that Maryland left on him. 

Simon admits he was young and immature when he came to Maryland at 17. But it was here that he matured, later becoming a Hall of Famer in the pros. 

“It prepared me to be a professional,” Simon said. “It also prepared me to be a leader on a team, to be a team captain for over 10 years in their professional ranks. … I learned how to become a professional and then play on a big stage and perform on a big stage.”

He also says receiving a scholarship to Maryland set him up for later success. He thanked donors and others who helped pay for it.  

“Receiving a scholarship to be a student athlete at the University of Maryland gave me hope to have a bright future,” Simon said. “I grew up wanting to play collegiately in front of a national audience, against the highest level of competition and I got that here. The experiences I’ve received and relationships I’ve made are still very influential in my daily life today. I’m forever grateful to have represented Maryland Athletics.”

After earning his Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 1997, Simon spent the next two years on NFL rosters with the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was cut from each team.

Simon signed with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers and produced two successful seasons before returning to the NFL and signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was cut again and even contemplated retirement.  

On his birthday on Sept. 11, 2001, he planned to fly out and join the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The terrorist attacks that morning shut down all travel for several days, and the team ultimately passed on him. But the British Columbia Lions gave him one last shot. He spent one day on their practice squad and caught a touchdown in his first game. Simon went on to rewrite history. 

“Going to the CFL was the ultimate taking a chance on myself,” Simon said. “I could have stayed in the NFL, and I probably would have played a couple more years and made a lot more money. I just wanted to play. I'm a super competitive person. I wanted to not only leave a legacy on the field, but I also wanted to leave a legacy off the field. That's why I stayed in Canada so long.” 

Simon played in the CFL from 1999-2013 with the Blue Bombers (1999-2000), Lions (2001-12) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013). He compiled a league record of 16,352 receiving yards over his 15-year career. His mark of 1,029 career receptions ranks second all-time, and his 103 career touchdown receptions are third all-time. 

The wide receiver won three Grey Cup championships, claiming titles in 2006, 2011 and 2013. In his first title season in 2006, he was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player after leading the league and setting career bests with 105 receptions, 1,856 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. 

Simon was selected as a CFL Western All-Star seven times and a CFL All-Star six times in his career. He was also awarded the CFLPA All-Star status four times. In his final season as a player, Simon won a championship, catching two touchdowns in Saskatchewan's title game in 2013. 

After his Hall of Fame career, Simon transitioned to a career in sports management. 

“When I retired, after my last game, I said that I wanted to be a general manager,” Simon said. “I worked towards that. I knew that I had to start from the bottom.”

He started as a scout for the Lions in 2015. However, he was also a team ambassador who helped with personnel and business development. In 2021, he leveraged that experience to become the assistant general manager of the Edmonton Elks. He held that position for four years before serving as the general manager. 

On Jan. 27, Simon embarked on a new journey in a familiar place. He returned to where it all started, being named Maryland Athletics’ Executive Director of Revenue Share Management and General Manager. 

“I've been trying to get back here for a number of different other opportunities, but this is the perfect role for me,” Simon said. “I tell people all the time when I left here in 1997, I've been trying to get back here ever since.”

He continued. 

“This is the place that I love,” Simon said. “This is the only university that I ever cheered for in the last 25 years. So to come back and be able to represent the university, to put the M on my chest, and be a representative of the school is something that's really important.”

In his role, Simon is responsible for the strategic vision, planning and execution of department-wide revenue-share management. He collaborates with administration coaches and legal counsel on all player contracts, roster construction and multi-year salary cap management. 

Additionally, he develops and maintains analytical modeling, software and other frameworks to ensure a process-oriented and data-driven approach to salary cap management. He oversees budget forecasting, including projecting total revenue-sharing and team-specific budgets for all sports, emphasizing football and men's and women’s basketball. 

“I have a lot of pride in the time that I spent here,” Simon said. “They were some of the best years of my life, regardless of whether it was high school, university or in the professional ranks. Maryland is a special place to me, and that's why I'm really excited to be back here.”