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The Tennessee Titans will be reuniting with plenty of familiar faces in the team's Week 1 matchup on the road against the Chicago Bears . While plenty of former Titans now reside in the Windy City, seeing Kevin Byard on an opposing sideline will take some getting used to.
Byard spent eight seasons with the Titans before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the NFL's trade deadline a year ago. This offseason, Chicago inked the Mayor of Murfreesboro to a two-year deal worth $15 million. Although his time in Tennessee has come to an end, he will likely have his famed No. 31 jersey immortalized in the Titans Ring of Honor once his career wraps up.
Bears veterans reported to training camp on Friday, but Sunday was the first time Byard stepped behind the microphone in Chicago. One of the first questions posed to Byard was centered around the season opener against the team that selected him in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
"We're all anticipating it for sure," Byard told reporters regarding the Week 1 showdown with Tennessee. "I'm excited to try and get one against Will (Levis)."
Byard brought down 27 interceptions in his Titans tenure. However, there is no doubt that picking off Titans quarterback Will Levis would be one of the most memorable takeaways of his career.
Levis is in good hands, with head coach Brian Callahan calling the shots on offense. The Kentucky product has been known to make high-risk throws throughout his college and professional career, but one would have to believe the offensive staff is going to respect an immensely talented Bears secondary, including Jaylon Johnson and Jaquan Brisker in the defensive backfield alongside Byard.
Titans fans will always support Byard as he navigates the back nine of his playing career. Byard was not only one of the best players on some of the most talented Titans teams seen in nearly two decades, but he was also incredibly active in the community.
Even though Byard was a fan favorite in Tennessee, the new-look Titans desperately need to get off to a winning start in 2024. Levis will have his work cut out for him, but Byard and Co. will also have their hands full with DeAndre Hopkins , Calvin Ridley , and Tyler Boyd all capable of making opposing secondaries look foolish.
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