NASHVILLE, Tenn. – June 2, 2025
The Tennessee Titans find themselves in a dramatically different position than just a few years ago. Once a perennial playoff contender with prime-time visibility, the Titans are now embarking on a comprehensive rebuild, evidenced most recently by the 2025 NFL schedule — which includes zero prime-time games for the first time since the franchise moved to Nashville.
In stark contrast to their four prime-time appearances in 2022, the Titans are now considered one of the least marketable teams in the league, following back-to-back losing seasons and sweeping changes to leadership and roster construction. But internally, the Titans aren’t panicking — they’re resetting, and they believe they’re doing it the right way.
📉 From Contenders to Rebuilders
After a promising run from 2019–2021 that included multiple playoff wins and a near AFC Championship appearance, the Titans’ fall has been swift. A 7-10 record in 2022, capped off by losing the final seven games of the season, began the franchise’s downward spiral. Then came:
•The firing of GM Jon Robinson during the 2022 collapse.
•A 6-11 record in 2023, resulting in the dismissal of head coach Mike Vrabel.
•A disastrous 3-13 campaign in 2024, leading to the termination of GM Ran Carthon.
In just three years, Tennessee transitioned from contender to bottom-dweller, ultimately landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
🧭 A New Blueprint: Draft. Develop. Retain.
Stepping into the leadership void is Chad Brinker, now serving as President of Football Operations. Brinker has emphasized a long-term strategy he refers to as “Draft, Develop, Retain” — a philosophy rooted in team-building rather than splashy short-term fixes.
“We’re going to build the core of our roster through the draft, and be selective in free agency,” Brinker told ESPN. “We’ll focus on developing our young talent, and when they’re ready, we’ll retain the best among them.”
That mission began with the selection of quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick in the 2025 draft — a dynamic, dual-threat passer out of Washington State, who is expected to start immediately following a reported executive decision by team ownership.
🧱 Foundation Work Underway
New general manager Mike Borgonzi, formerly with the Kansas City Chiefs, is taking a trenches-first approach to roster building — beginning with a major overhaul of the offensive line. The team signed veterans like Kevin Zeitler to provide leadership and toughness in the locker room, while also drafting key pieces in the trenches to protect their rookie signal-caller.
“You want to build the foundation,” Borgonzi said at the Senior Bowl. “In terms of philosophy, we want to build the fronts first.”
🌟 Talent Deficit Looms
While there’s a renewed sense of purpose in the front office, the on-field reality remains grim. Only six players on the current roster have Pro Bowl experience, and just two — Jeffery Simmons and Morgan Cox — earned that honor while wearing a Titans uniform.
Tony Pollard, Tyler Lockett, Kevin Zeitler, and Johnny Hekker are proven veterans, but all were brought in from other organizations. The absence of homegrown, top-tier talent has made Brinker’s “Draft, Develop, Retain” model not just ideal — but essential.
🏟️ A Franchise Rebuilding On and Off the Field
The transformation isn’t limited to the roster. Just blocks from downtown Nashville, construction is roaring ahead on the New Nissan Stadium — a $2.2 billion state-of-the-art venue scheduled to open in 2027. The stadium represents the Titans’ long-term investment in becoming a premier franchise again — even if they’re currently out of the national spotlight.
👀 What to Expect in 2025
The Titans will enter the 2025 season without the glitz of prime-time games, but internally, they view it as an opportunity to grow under the radar. The development of Cam Ward — and whether Borgonzi and Brinker can stick to their disciplined blueprint — will define this era of Titans football.
After three straight seasons of instability, coaching changes, and front-office shakeups, Tennessee is finally aligned behind one vision. It may not be flashy, and it won’t be quick — but the Titans believe this is the foundation of something far greater than a one-year turnaround.
As Brinker said in January:
“It’s what I know, it’s what I believe in.”
And now, it’s what the Titans are all-in on — whether the league is watching or not.
