NASHVILLE - Training camp is in full swing and former Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is still without a team.
The 35-year-old veteran became a free agent after reaching the end of his contract with Tennessee following the 2023 season and has not yet found the right fit on the open market.
Tannehill recently discussed his current free agent status on the " Scoop City " podcast with Dianna Russini and Chase Daniel. Tannehill also opened up about Will Levis, the end of his Titans tenure, Mike Vrabel as his head coach, and spearfishing...yes, spearfishing.
Ryan Tannehill did a lot for the Titans organization. He was 39-24 as the starting quarterback. He won AP Comeback Player of the Year. He was selected to his first career Pro Bowl. He led Tennessee to the playoffs in three consecutive seasons including one appearance in the AFC Championship Game.
In total, Tannehill's time with the Titans revived his career and gave the organization stability at quarterback for a very talented core. But it didn't end nearly as pretty as it started back in 2019.
In 2023, the Titans got off to a 2-4 start with an aging Tannehill really struggling under center. The offensive line were unable to keep the veteran upright and things very quickly spiraled out of control. Tannehill got hurt, which led to him being benched for a rookie in Will Levis .
"I’m not going to say it's a fun place to be," Tannehill told Russini during their interview. "A lot of people have been through it. It's nothing new. It's part of the business and we had a good relationship, right? There was nothing, no animosity or anything. I don't have hard feelings against Will [Levis]. He's trying to chase his dream just like I was coming out of college too."
As cordial as Tannehill and Levis might be, it's not easy to sit back and get replaced when you still feel like you have something left in the tank. But the 12-year veteran was at least able to recognize the physical gifts that Levis possesses and the Titans are banking their future on.
"He's a very talented guy. He's big, he's physical, he's got a great arm, and did some great things when he got in there last year. We'll see what happens and I wish him nothing but the best," said Tannehill.
By the end of the 2023 season, Tannehill wasn't the only one whose time in Tennessee was over. Head coach Mike Vrabel was fired at the end of the regular season and now works as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns.
Russini asked Tannehill during their "Scoop City" interview about Vrabel's firing and whether he felt it was the right move or not.
"I don't know. I enjoyed playing for Vrabel. He did a lot of great things," Tannehill said. "He was definitely one of the best if not the best head coach I played for as far as how we prepared as a team and how he educated the team on a weekly basis. Situationally, I always felt like we were really good and game management I felt like we were really good. That's where the head coach comes in. I don't know what their reasons were for letting him go."
Tannehill's endorsement of Vrabel is one of many that the former Titans head coach has received since being fired. While Tennessee may be headed in the right direction under Brian Callahan, I still have confidence that Vrabel will be a succesful head coach at his next stop. Tannehill did a really good job of explaining why.
It really is shocking how fast life can come at you in the National Football League. One year ago today, the Titans were ramping up training camp with Tannehill as the surefire QB1 and Mike Vrabel was one of the most secure head coaches in the league. Now they're both in completely different stages of life. Vrabel is running around racing Jameis Winston at Browns practice while Tannehill is spearfishing in the Bahamas.
Spearfishing is one of Tannehill's newest hobbies outside of football and aviation (Tannehill recently got his pilot's license). It's something he told Russini he enjoys for "the intensity, the rush, and the adrenaline" ...natural for a football player.
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