Jeffery Simmons understands that his latest contract with the Tennessee Titans means generational wealth for his family. And that’s perhaps why he was overwhelmed with emotions at a Wednesday press conference, and wiped away tears.

“My mom, single parent, just to see how much we have came from, to see the journey we have been on, as a family, it’s crazy,” he said. “… It’s my kids’ kids, it’s generational wealth, as we call it. It’s why I do it for man, every day I wake up.”

Simmons, the former Mississippi State star, paused to reflect on moving from house to house, and apartment to apartment and sharing a bed with his brother.

“I just think about those hard times where I know my mom didn’t feel like it,” he said. “For some time, I be like, I’m hurt, I think about my mom having to raise 5 kids on her own. For me to say, I don’t want to do this, that’s my motivation, my family.”

Simmons’ new contract is expected to be for $94 million over 4 years, about $23.5 million a year based on new money.