Titans coach gets once in a lifetime opportunity with son's MLB debut

NASHVILLE - Tennessee Titans defensive line coach Tracy Rocker will be leaving Nashville after Titans practice on Thursday for a once in a lifetime opportunity in Seattle.

Rocker's son, Kumar, is a former Vanderbilt Commodores baseball star that has been called up to make his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are taking on the Seattle Mariners at 8:40 PM CT tonight.

Kumar Rocker was drafted three different times (2018, 2021, 2022) before signing with the Rangers as the third overall pick. He has posted an impressive 2.78 ERA in the minor league since.

For the Titans assistant coach planning to travel for his son's big day, he aims to be back in Nashville in time for practice on Friday. Tennessee is preparing for a big game against the New York Jets in Sunday's home opener.

"I'm so happy for the Rocker family. I've been around Tracy for many years. I know his son very well and I understand the relationship that he has with his son," said Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson on Thursday. "To be able to go and see your son throw out the first pitch of a Major League Baseball game when your son has gone through the adversity he has and went through the minors to get to his point...man, that's a hell of a feeling.

Rocker has been a great addition to the Titans' coaching staff this season. His unit performed admirably in Chicago and remains one of the strengths of this Titans roster. Rookie defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat seems to get better every day and is living up to the early expectations of him as a rookie.

Whether you're a Vanderbilt fan familiar with Kumar, a Vols fan familiar with Tracy, or a Titans fan presently seeing the impact Rocker has had...We're all Rangers fans on Thursday night.

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