Meet our 10 best Tennessee Titans defensive players in franchise history
The Titans are off until late July.
So, while we wait for fall camp to begin on July 22, we've ranked the 10 best defensive players in Tennessee Titans history since the organization moved to Nashville in 1997. Everyone selected for this list played a minimum of one season in Nashville as a Tennessee Titan to be eligible.
How long they spent within the organization was also considered.
Let the debate begin.
1. Keith Bulluck
Bulluck played linebacker for the Titans from 2000 to 2009. He was named to the All-Pro first team twice and second team once. The linebacker was also selected to the Pro Bowl in 2003. Bulluck recorded 1,057 total tackles and 18 sacks during his time in Tennessee.
2. Kevin Byard
Byard was drafted by the Titans in 2016 out of Middle Tennessee State and played in Nashville until 2023. He led the NFL in interceptions in 2017 with eight. The safety was a two-time All-Pro first-team member and two-time Pro Bowler. Byard recorded 27 interceptions during his time in Nashville, which is tied for fourth most in franchise history.
3. Jurrell Casey
Casey was drafted by the Titans in 2011 and stayed in Nashville until 2019. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and named to the All-Pro second team in 2013. Casey is seventh on the list for most sacks in franchise history with 51. The defensive tackle recorded 493 total tackles as a Titan.
4. Jevon Kearse
Kearse was drafted by the Titans in 1999 and stayed until 2003. He then returned and played the 2008 and 2009 season in Nashville. In 1999, he was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and First-team All-Pro. That season, he was the NFL co-leader in forced fumbles. The defensive end was also a three-time Pro Bowler as a Titan. He has the sixth most sacks in franchise history with 52.
5. Michael Griffin
Griffin was drafted by the Titans and played in Tennessee from 2007-2015. In his first season, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 2010, Griffin was named an All-Pro second-team member. The safety was also a two-time Pro Bowler. Griffin's 25 career interceptions gives him the ninth most in franchise history.
6. Albert Haynesworth
Haynesworth played for the Titans from 2002-2008. During his time in Tennessee, he was named a two-time All-Pro first-team member as well as a two-time Pro Bowler. The defensive tackle recorded 24 career sacks as a Titan.
7. Kyle Vanden Bosch
Vanden Bosch played for the Titans from 2005-2009. As a Titan, he was selected to the Pro Bowl three times. The defensive end was named First-team All-Pro in 2007. Vanden Bosch has the 12th most career sacks in franchise history with 38.5.
8. Samari Rolle
The cornerback was drafted by the franchise in 1998 and played in Tennessee until 2004. In 2000, he was named First-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl. During his tenure with the team, Rolle recorded 27 interceptions. The cornerback was part of the Titans team that went to Super Bowl XXXIV.
9. Jeffery Simmons
Simmons was drafted in 2019 and is heading into his seventh season with the Titans. The defensive tackle has been named Second-team All-Pro twice and to the Pro Bowl three times. He has 31.5 sacks, which is 13th most in franchise history.
10. Cortland Finnegan
Finnegan played for the Titans from 2006-2011. In 2008, the cornerback was named a Pro Bowler and First-team All-Pro. The seventh-round draft pick recorded 473 total tackles and 14 interceptions during his time in Nashville.
3 Titans who just missed the list
Blaine Bishop
Bishop was drafted by the franchise in 1993 and played with the Titans until 2001. He was an All-Pro second-team member in 2000 and was a four-time Pro Bowler. The safety led the team in tackles in 1995, 1996 and 1999.
Harold Landry III
Landry played for the Titans from 2018-2024. The linebacker was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021. He recorded 50.5 sacks during his tenure in Tennessee, which is the eighth most in franchise history. Landry combined for 397 total tackles as a Titan.
Derrick Morgan
Morgan played his entire career as a Titan from 2010 to 2018. He recorded 44.5 sacks, which is 10th most in franchise history. During his tenure, the linebacker recorded 305 total tackles, 26 deflections, five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 10 best Tennessee Titans defensive players in franchise history
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WATCH: DeAndre Hopkins arrives for Baltimore Ravens training camp
The Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for the 2025 NFL season, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. Several players, coaches, and front-office members are crucial to the team's success this season. One big addition was star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins, a veteran wide receiver and future Hall of Famer, can help make the Ravens' passing game more efficient in the most significant moments. Training camp reporting day is Tuesday, and the efficient wide receiver was among the first players to arrive at the Under Armour Performance Center. Background Position: WR Age: 33 Experience: 13-year pro 2025 cap hit: $2,004,000 2024 recap Hopkins posted his seventh 1,000-yard season in 2023 with the Tennessee Titans and was still productive last year. Following a trade from the Tennessee Titans to the Kansas City Chiefs in October, he caught 41 passes for 437 yards and four touchdowns for the Chiefs over the final 10 regular-season games. Hopkins added three receptions during the postseason and caught a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion for the Chiefs during their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. 2025 outlook The move gives the Ravens a legit third option at wide receiver and one of the NFL's most efficient trios of pass catchers. Hopkins, most importantly, provides quarterback Lamar Jackson with an elite red zone target. Biggest question: Can Hopkins take Ravens' passing game to bigger heights? Of the 70 wide receivers who've had 500 targets since 2013, Hopkins has the fifth-lowest drop rate at 1.6%. Last season, the Ravens' wide receivers ranked 30th in the NFL with a 5.1% drop rate. With the opposing defenses likely to lock in on Derrick Henry even more in 2025, Hopkins provides the Ravens with an elite pass catcher who'll produce in the most challenging moments. Hopkins has been one of his generation's most productive wide receivers, having been selected to five Pro Bowls and named first-team All-Pro three times. Since entering the league in 2013, his 984 receptions lead all wide receivers, and his 12,965 receiving yards top all players. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens training camp: DeAndre Hopkins arrives for year 1 in Baltimore
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Packers signing rookie WR ahead of training camp
The Green Bay Packers are signing a rookie wide receiver ahead of Wednesday's start to training camp. According to multiple reports, the Packers will sign undrafted free agent Will Sheppard, a rookie out of Colorado, to the 90-man offseason roster. Sheppard (6-2, 203) originally agreed to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2025 NFL draft but failed his physical. He also participated at the Denver Broncos minicamp as a tryout player but was not signed. After four seasons at Vanderbilt, Sheppard transferred to Colorado and was an important player for the Buffaloes in 2024. He caught 48 passes for 621 yards and six touchdowns across 13 games. While Sheppard had five games with two or fewer catches, he also had a six-game stretch where he caught all six of his touchdown passes and Colorado went 5-1. Sheppard played almost exclusively out wide for Colorado. He averaged 1.22 yards per route run, per PFF, a relatively poor number at the college level, but Sheppard did catch 12 of 24 contested catch opportunities and only had two drops. He previously caught 152 passes for 2,067 yards and 21 touchdowns over 42 games at Vanderbilt. He caught nine touchdown passes in 2022 and eight more in 2023. Sheppard played more in the slot (roughly 20 percent of snaps) while at Vanderbilt and was a more efficient receiver overall, averaging 2.12 yards per route run in 2022 and 1.93 in 2023. Sheppard participated at the East-West Shrine Game. During pre-draft testing, Sheppard ran the 40-yard dash in 4.59 seconds -- a slow time for a receiver his size -- but also hit 40.5" in the vertical leap and covered 10-6 in the broad jump, giving him a Relative Athletic Score of 8.72. From Lance Zierlein of "Fifth-year senior with steady catch production over the last four seasons. Sheppard has good size and average speed. However, he will run routes below his optimal play speed and leaves too many routes unfinished. His ball skills are much better down the field than underneath and he toggles between a spectacular catch and a frustrating lack of catch finishing. He sees a high number of routes contested but lacks the feistiness to win those battles at a high enough rate." Sheppard joins a fascinating receiver group for the Packers featuring rookies Matthew Golden, Savion Williams and Sam Brown Jr. Sheppard was among a group of players working out for the Packers on Monday. Expect the signing to become official on Tuesday. This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers signing rookie WR Will Sheppard ahead of training camp
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ravens Pro Bowler mentioned as Baltimore's biggest X-factor
This coming Baltimore Ravens season is about sealing the deal. You won't convince anyone of anything to the contrary. They hosted an AFC Championship two years ago, and they lost. That loss carried over into 2024. This past January, they sought redemption. Again, they were eliminated. This time, they were bounced during the Divisional Round. Many may not want to hear this because their main goal was to raise the Lombardi Trophy, leading them to view the past two seasons as failures. However, there is much to be excited about. This team has many achievements to be proud of, and this season is indeed about sealing the deal. They have positioned themselves well to accomplish that. ESPN names the Ravens' biggest X-factor ESPN recently released a ranking of the NFL's best rosters, using projected starting lineups to inform its creation. Lamar Jackson is named as Baltimore's biggest strength. There's no surprise there, right? The right guard position was labeled their biggest weakness, while Tyler Loop was the non-starter to know. That brings us to X-factors. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley earned himself a mention. "Left tackle Ronnie Stanley. This is all about his health. Stanley didn't miss a game last season, which helped earn him a well-deserved contract, but that doesn't mean the injury risks all went away. When Stanley and Jackson are on the field, the Ravens' offense is awfully hard to beat." Those were the words of Seth Walder. He was one of the contributors to this one. It seems intriguing that no role players or young defenders were mentioned as X-factors or possible breakout stars. Perhaps that angle has been worked enough. Stanley is a two-time Pro Bowler and a former 2019 First-Team All-Pro. Baltimore is loaded. Stanley has fought his way back from past injury concerns. If he can enjoy another healthy run in 2025 (and if this team can figure out their problems along the offensive front), the Ravens may finally achieve the redemption they have been seeking. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens Pro Bowler mentioned as Baltimore's biggest X-factor
