Inaugural Titans Foundation Dinner Raises $255,000 For Local Community

Photo: Courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

At the inaugural Titans Foundation Dinner on Wednesday (May 18), the Titans raised $255,000 to help support the Middle Tennessee Community.

The Titans Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports communities within the Tennessee Titans’ region. Through its work, the Titans contribute to schools, non-profit organizations, community centers and other neighborhood assets.

“It’s an awesome event,” shares Adolpho Birch III, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs and Chief Legal Officer for the Titans. “We are very proud to have as many people come out and help us celebrate the Titans, [particularly] the Titans Foundation, as well as to honor and look at the upcoming season, our new draft class, and really talk Titans football. It’s an amazing event… and it really shines a light on what the Foundation can be about.”

Hosted by “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith, the Foundation Dinner welcomed nearly 450 fans to the sold-out event at Nissan Stadium. The event featured General Manager Jon Robinson, Head Coach Mike Vrabel, President/CEO Burke Nihill, receiver Robert Woods, and country music star Jake Owen, among others.

Former Titans stars Keith Bulluck and Jevon Kearse were also at the dinner for several auction items which raised big money in bidding. The NFL Network’s Charles Davis and members of the team’s rookie class also made appearances.

Proceeds from the Tennessee Titans Foundation Dinner, presented by Pinnacle, go directly to the Foundation continuing its mission to serve the surrounding communities.

In 2021, the Titans Foundation hosted its Annual Kick-Off Luncheon, and raised more than $150,000 for the foundation, $50,000 of which went directly to support victims of the Waverly, Tennessee floods.

Titans Sign First Round Pick Treylon Burks To Four-Year, $14 Million Deal

Treylon Burks. Photo: Courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans and 2022 first round draft pick Treylon Burks have agreed to a four-year contract with $14,369,590 guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.

The Warren, Arkansas native, who was selected with the 18th overall pick of the first round, caught 66 passes for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Razorbacks in 2021 to earn first-team All-SEC honors. Burks racked up a season-best 179 yards receiving on eight catches and matched a career-best with two touchdown’s at Alabama (Nov. 20) in 2021. In 2020, Burks led the Razorbacks with 51 catches, 820 yards (16.1 ypc) and seven touchdowns.

Burks is now the fifth member of the team’s nine-man draft class to reach a deal with the team. Earlier, the Titans signed running back Hassan Haskins (fourth round), receiver Kyle Philips (fifth round), defensive back Theo Jackson (sixth round) and linebacker Chance Campbell (sixth round) to rookie deals.

Now the only two draftees who haven’t come to an agreement include Auburn’s Roger McCreary and Liberty’s Malik Willis.

Titans Celebrate 2022 Schedule Release By Honoring Jefferson Street Businesses

Photo: Courtesy of the Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are honoring the historic Nashville neighborhood of Jefferson Street as they celebrate the release of its 2022 schedule.

The team revealed its 2022 schedule through a short film highlighting eight iconic businesses on Jefferson Street in North Nashville, the historic corridor of Nashville’s African-American community. The film serves as a precursor for an all-season initiative to spotlight the businesses at each regular-season home game.

“Schedule Release Day is a landmark for creative teams across the NFL, and vying for the best and most creative way to unveil your team’s schedule can get fairly competitive,” says Surf Melendez, Vice President and Executive Creative Director for the Titans. “Ultimately, as we sat down to plan our strategy this year, we had this vision of taking our ‘moment’ and making it Nashville’s moment. Being able to celebrate Jefferson Street in a video seen by such a large part of our fanbase is one of the most impactful schedule release videos I’ve ever been a part of.”

The vision was established by the Titans creative team in collaboration with Seck., a multi-hyphenate filmmaker and visual artist. Seck. has an established reputation for changing perceptions of Nashville’s Black creative community, from hip-hop to filmmaking and beyond.

In the 1940s and 1960s, Jefferson Street was one of America’s best-known districts of jazz and rhythm and blues, among other musical genres. Legendary musicians flocked to the neighborhood to perform at one of its many entertainment centers.

“We are consistently working to preserve the lineage of Nashville’s ‘original music row’ and the legacy of Jefferson Street,” says Lorenzo Washington, owner of the Jefferson Street Sound Museum. “Legends have walked this street for decades, offering some of the greatest musical traditions and historical landmarks. We are proud to partner with the Titans as we continue to grow our business and create more opportunities to tell the Jefferson Street story.”

Jefferson Street also served as a southern hub for sit ins during the civil rights movement. Three historically black colleges and universities are located nearby: Fisk University, Meharry Medical College and Tennessee State University.

“Jefferson Street is absolutely essential to the fabric of the African-American community and all of Nashville,” says Adolpho Birch III, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Legal Officer for the Titans. “For decades, these small business owners and others have worked diligently to maintain the character and integrity of the neighborhood and keep alive the stories of its rich history. Highlighting important touchstones like Jefferson Street and reinforcing the values of cultural diversity are deeply important to the Titans organization. We look forward to more opportunities to highlight streets and neighborhoods across the state of Tennessee.”

The Titans will spotlight the below Jefferson Street businesses and business owners:

Tennessee To Open Football Season Against Virginia At Nissan Stadium

The Tennessee Volunteers are returning to Music City to open up the 2023 football season against Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 2 in Nissan Stadium, the two programs and the Nashville Sports Council has announced.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Vols and Cavaliers to Nashville on opening weekend of the 2023 college football season,” says Nashville Sports Council President and CEO Scott Ramsey. “Both programs have a place in Nashville Sports history, having both played in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. We look forward to hosting them along with their loyal fanbases and once again showcasing Nashville on a national stage.”

This will be the third time Tennessee has played in a regular season non-conference game at Nissan Stadium since taking on Bowling Green in 2015 and Wyoming in 2002. The Vols last played at Nissan Stadium in December during the 2021 TransPerfect Music City Bowl.

The 2023 opener will be the first meeting between the two teams since the 1991 Sugar Bowl when Tennessee pulled off a 23-22 come-from-behind victory in New Orleans. The Vols lead the all-time series 3-1. The other meetings occurred in Knoxville during regular seasons in 1927, 1940 and 1980.

“Pivoting to play a marquee non-conference opponent in Nashville made sense for multiple reasons,” says Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White. “This is a more accessible game for our fanbase. I expect that we will have a much larger contingent of fans in Nashville than would have been able to travel to Utah. Our fans also have heard me talk about the importance of finding new revenue to grow our operating budget, and playing Virginia at Nissan Stadium is an opportunity for a net-positive revenue game. I appreciate Virginia AD Carla Williams and the Nashville Sports Council for working with us to make this attractive matchup happen.”

Virginia will return to Nissan Stadium for the first time since 2005 when the Cavaliers took on Minnesota in the then-Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl presented by Bridgestone. Virginia won that game 34-31 on a late field goal. Quarterback Marques Hagans, who now serves as Virginia’s associate head coach and wide receivers coach, was named MVP.

Tennessee will serve as the designated home team for the 2023 opener. Ticket information and a kickoff time will be announced at a later date.

Titans Release 2022 Schedule Which Includes Four Primetime Games

The Tennessee Titans 2022 schedule is here and is set to be an exciting one that features four primetime games including a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at Nissan Stadium.

As previously announced, the Titans will head to Buffalo in Week 2 to play the Bills on Monday Night Football. But Tennessee will kick things off with a home opener against the New York Giants on Sept. 11. The Titans will be tested early as they play three of their first five games on the road before a bye week in Week 6.

Later in the season, the Titans will make a trip to Lambeau Field to take on Aaron Rodgers the the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 17 on Thursday Night Football on Prime Video. Tennessee will also face Matt Ryan and the Colts twice before Week 10 which will be extremely important for the AFC South Division race.

The Bengals will visit Nissan Stadium on Nov. 27 in a rematch of the AFC Divisional Playoff contest from last season and are set to take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 6 on Sunday Night Football. Another big game fans should look out for is when the Titans play the Eagles and former wide receiver AJ Brown in Philadelphia on Dec. 4.

Full Tennessee Titans schedule:

Week 1

vs. New York Giants on Sunday, September 11

Week 2

at Buffalo Bills on Monday, September 19 (MNF)

Week 3

vs. Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, September 25

Week 4

at Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, October 2

Week 5

at Washington Commanders on Sunday, October 9

Week 6

BYE on Sunday, October 16

Week 7

vs. Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, October 23

Week 8

at Houston Texans on Sunday, October 30

Week 9

at Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, November 6 (SNF)

Week 10

vs. Denver Broncos on Sunday, November 13

Week 11

at Green Bay Packers on Thursday, November 17 (TNF)

Week 12

vs. Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, November 27

Week 13

at Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, December 4

Week 14

vs. Jacksonville Jaguars on  Sunday, December 11

Week 15

at Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 18

Week 16

vs. Houston Texans on Saturday, December 24

Week 17

vs. Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, December 29 (TNF)

Week 18

at Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, January 8 or Sunday, January 9

Titans To Play Buffalo Bills In Week 2 Monday Night Football Matchup

While the full Titans schedule doesn’t drop until Thursday (May 12), the team has announced that Tennessee will be heading to Buffalo in Week 2 to face the Bills on Monday Night Football in an early primetime matchup.

Each day this week, the NFL is dropping bitesized scheduling announcements leading up to the complete schedule release on Thursday night. In late April, the league finalized the five international games taking place in 2022.

In the 2021-22 season, the Titans beat the Bills 34-31 in a thrilling game on Monday Night Football in 2021 at Nissan Stadium. In 2020, the Titans beat the Bills 42-16 in a Tuesday night game at Nissan Stadium. The Bills last beat the Titans in 2018 with a crushing 13-12 game in Tennessee’s last visit to Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium.

Both the Titans and Bills are coming off great seasons as two of the top teams in the AFC. This early MNF matchup could be a great 2023 NFL playoff preview.

All clubs will announce their first home game opponent on Thursday at 5 p.m. CT before the full schedule release later that evening at 7 p.m. CT.

The 2022 NFL season is set to kick off on Thursday, Sept. 8, with a full slate of games scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11.

Here’s a look at the Titans opponents for the upcoming 2022-23 season:
Home
Denver Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Cincinnati Bengals
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars

Away
Kansas City Chiefs
Los Angeles Chargers
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commanders
Buffalo Bills
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars

Williamson County Girl’s Flag Football Success Could Lead To Statewide Growth

Photo: Courtesy of Christian Taylor

In its inaugural season, the Williamson County Flag Football League has garnered local and statewide attention for its dedication to growing the sport of football and making it inclusive for everyone.

The Tennessee Titans, who have supported this since before it started, will be hosting a tournament at Nissan Stadium on May 7 where a winner will be crowned.

The league is currently a club sport but the league leaders are pushing for it to become a sanctioned TSSAA sport.

Titans Director of Marketing – Youth & Community Engagement Josh Corey has experience helping develop a girl’s flag football league from a club sport to a state recognized high school program from his time as a coach and administrator at Duval County Public Schools in Jacksonville, Florida.

“It was something that I thought was a great opportunity for us here in Tennessee,” Corey shares with The Sports Credential. “It took a little while to lay the ground work, but we’ve received a tremendous response from school districts that we’ve talked to, the TSSAA and a lot of different partners who would’ve made this come to fruition.”

Ravenwood High School Girls Flag Football vs. Nolensville High School. Photo: Courtesy of Christian Taylor

A little over a year ago, Corey spoke with Williamson County School System Athletic Directory Darrin Joines to try and start this league which the Titans would back. The support from the community and high school football programs was a huge part of making it a reality.

“The coaches I talked to were extremely excited about the potential for doing this,” Corey notes. “It was about a year ago when we planned it out. We knew it would take a little bit of time to do it right… And here we are now.”

The current schools fielding teams in the league are Ravenwood, Summit, Fairview, Independence, Nolensville, Brentwood, Centennial, Page and Franklin. To prove how serious this league is, all teams are being coached by a football head coach, former head coach or assistant coach, meaning these girls are be learning real plays from coaches with decades of experience.

Both the Titans and the NFL are working together to promote safe and fun youth football for both boys and girls. Currently Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Alaska and Nevada are the only states that have sanctioned high school girls flag football programs. However, between the reaction from the Williamson County community, coaches and the support from the Titans, Tennessee could be next in line.

“[It’s amazing to] have the opportunity to be a part of something on the ground level and know tha,t if it goes well and people get interested in it, it could be the next TSSAA sport,” Ravenwood High School football head coach Will Hester explains. “The idea of getting to do something that nobody has done at the high school level in Tennessee, getting a chance to coach the girls, and getting to coach some of those ladies before they leave and go off to their college sports was very intriguing to me.”

Ravenwood High School head football coach and girls flag football coach Will Hester. Photo: Christian Taylor

During Hester’s first three years in Middile Tennessee, Ravenwood won three region championships, one State Runner-up, and one State Championship, and amassed a record of 38-4 over that period. He later left Ravenwood for Nolensville High School which only had freshmen and sophomores who competed at the 4A level. In their second year with only freshman, sophomores and juniors, they became the first school in Tennessee history to qualify for and win a playoff game without a senior in the school.

Hester returned to Ravenwood in December of 2020 after spending three seasons with Florence High School in Alabama, leading the team to two playoff appearances and one quarter finals appearance.

The flag football league was attractive to so many young female student-athletes that it surpassed Hester’s expectations. So many different athletes and non-athletes were eager to jump at this new opportunity because of their overall love for football.

“There’s been a lot of interest in the community and a lot of media coverage of it,” Hester adds. “It’s hitting the girls that play other sports, but it’s also giving some female athletes that haven’t played anything else the chance to get involved in another sport. There’s also some girls who aren’t involved in athletics at all, but it gives them an option to try something.”

As a football lover himself, Hester enjoys coaching football to anyone and everyone, and loves coaching a fresh set of athletes who’ve never played before.

Pictured: Ravenwood High School and Franklin High School Flag Football Players with referees pre-game. Photo: Christian Taylor

“It’s been reinvigorating for me,” Hester shares. “Most of the guys I coach already have a preconceived notion of what football should be, what they’ve learned or what they’ve been taught over the years. These girls are kind of starting fresh, so we’re getting to coach football in its simplest and most rudimentary form. That’s been fun for me to try and teach the game to someone who may not know much about the game.

“A lot of these girls have very high athletic IQs. We relate flag football defense to defense in soccer where the girls are used to marking up other girls and playing zones.”

After May 7’s tournament at Nissan Stadium, the next step is to continue to grow by getting more schools, coaches and girls involved–ultimately creating a bigger demand for the sport. The goal being to hopefully get the sport sanctioned by the TSSAA and spread to Davidson County as soon as spring of 2023.

“We have met with Mark North, the District Athletic Director for Metro schools. Logically our next step is to try to get Davidson County on board,” Corey sums. “We’re talking about adding 15 schools with [Metro schools] in 2023, and we’re open to expanding out to Sumner County and Rutherford County, as well as some of our surrounding Nashville footprint.”

Titans 2022 NFL Draft Round-Up

Pictured (L-R): Head Coach Mike Vrabel, first round draft pick Treylon Burks and General Manager Jon Robinson. Photo: Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

After a whirlwind NFL Draft weekend, the Tennessee Titans made some major moves and picked up some great players, including first round pick wide receiver Treylon Burks and third round pick quarterback Malik Willis.

Thursday night started off as expected with teams drafting the predicted players. The Titans were originally set to pick at 26th with a few solid wide receiver and offensive lineman options, but later in the first round, the New Orleans Saints made a trade up to 11th to pick a wide receiver and things began to heat up.

A few picks later, Tennessee dropped the first massive bomb during the draft, trading receiver AJ Brown to the Eagles for the 18th overall pick and 101st overall pick. The immediate reaction from fans via social media was shock, especially after general manager Jon Robinson said he had no intention of trading Brown just days earlier.

With the pick they selected Arkansas wideout Treylon Burks, who in many ways plays similarly to Brown.

“He’s been an exciting player in the SEC–big yards per catch. He’s a big target. He’s fast, competitive, and a player that we spent time with. He came here on a 30 visit, so we got to know him. We’re]excited to get him here in the offense and watch him work,” said Robinson. “The more we spent time with Treylon and watched the film and dug into it, we felt like that he did a lot of things physically that we like for that position.”

Later, the Titans traded their 26th overall pick to the Jets for the 35th overall pick in the second round. With that pick they selected defensive back Roger McCreary out of Auburn. He played 22 games in his final two seasons with the Tigers and had 135 total tackles in his four years.

In the third round, Tennessee selected Ohio State offensive tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, who was a much needed addition to the team’s front five. Later in the third round, with the 86th pick, the Titans made a huge move for Liberty quarterback Malik Willis. Willis had some big years for Liberty, throwing 2,857 yards with 8.4 yards per completion in his senior year. He also threw 27 touchdowns and hd a QB rating for 151.1.

“He was the best player on the board, and we’re excited to add him to the team,” Robinson explained. “[He has a] good arm, he’s athletic, and he moves around well. He’s got a really good skillset, throws a good ball, and is tough to tackle. He has a lot of work to do, obviously, like all the rookies do, but we’re excited to add him to the team and compete.”

The Titans had two picks in the fourth round of the draft and picked up Michigan running back Hassan Haskins with the 131 overall pick. He had 1,327 rushing yards in 2021 with 4.9 yards per carry and 20 touchdowns. With the 143rd pick, Tennessee drafted Chigoziem Oknonkwo, a tight end out of Maryland. He had a career season in 2021 with 52 receptions, 447 receiving yards (8.6 per rec.) and five touchdowns in 13 starts.

In the fifth round, the Titans selected wide receiver Kyle Phillips out of UCLA. He played 11 games for the Bruins in 2021 with 59 catches and 739 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

In the sixth round, Tennessee picked up Nashville native and John Overton High School graduate, Theo Jackson, a defensive back out of the University of Tennessee. Jackson was a great pick for the Titans as a local guy who played in 12 games for the Vols in 2021 with 78 total tackles.

“Jackson, the DB, is a local guy from Overton. He was at our local day, so we got to visit with him. He’s an outstanding guy,” Robinson noted. “The coaches at Tennessee, when you are asking about their prospects, just continue to rave about Theo and what he meant to their football team.”

For their final pick, the Titans made another defensive at pick 219, taking linebacker Chance Campbell out of Ole Miss. He played 13 games for the Rebels after transferring from Maryland. Campbell had 109 total tackles including 12.5 tackles for loss of yards.

Most independent media outlets gave the Titans a favorable grade with many of them awarding Tennessee a ‘B’ for its draft selections.

Next up this offseason are the rookie minicamps where the Titans and other NFL teams will get a chance to workout with their new draftees from May 14-16.