NASHVILLE – Jayon Brown is returning to the Titans, and he couldn't be more fired up about it.
"I am so happy to be back to the team that drafted me and believed in me from Day One coming into the league with (GM) Jon Robinson," said Brown, who agreed to terms on a new deal with the Titans. "And knowing the system that Coach (Mike) Vrabel runs, and with our D.C., with Shane Bowen, just the familiarity with the team and the city that I know, the fan base, it is like I am coming back home."
What's made Brown smile even bigger is the excitement he's seen from Titans fans reacting to the news.
"I've been seeing some of the mentions on Twitter," Brown said. "I don't think I've gotten this much love in a very long time."
Yes, the Titans are bringing back a key piece to their defense in Brown. On Friday, the team officially reached a deal with the franchise's fifth-round draft pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, a player who has developed into playmaker in the NFL.
Brown, who was scheduled to hit the open market on the first day of free agency on Wednesday, instead opted to return to Tennessee, where he has played in 56 games over the past four seasons, with 33 starts.
"I would love to play in Tennessee my whole career, and hopefully it goes that way," Brown said. "I can't tell the future, but Tennessee is a place I've grown to love, coming from southern California. I am so comfortable with the city, and our program, and I know what is expected out of me, being a leader, being a playmaker, being a great tackler.
"I am excited to come back to my linebacker coach, Jim Haslett, as well. I still have a lot to learn from him as well, with all the knowledge he has about the game."
Since entering the NFL, Brown has tallied 367 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 35 quarterback pressures, 17 tackles for a loss, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 28 passes defensed.
Brown tallied 76 stops and a sack, with an interception and four quarterback pressures, in 2020 before suffering a season-ending elbow injury in the team's win at Baltimore in November.
Brown racked up a career-high 117 tackles in 2019, when he also had a sack, seven quarterback pressures, four tackles for a loss with an interception and fumble recovery.
On an evolving defense, Brown's stability in the middle will be key. Brown said he's noticed some of the new additions on the defense in free agency, "and I'm looking forward to playing with those guys on the field."
Brown said he's healthy, and ready to go.
"I am fully cleared, and I can't wait to get back and show everybody this injury is not going to affect me," Brown said. "I am going to act like I never left and try and be better than ever.
"Coming off the season I had last year, I feel like I have so much to improve on. So yeah, I am so hungry to come back for another year and give it another shot to defend out AFC South title, and go to the Super Bowl."
Top Photos of Titans LB Jayon Brown during the 2020 Season.
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 11, 2020 - Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans promotional photo shoot at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 - Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel day to the Denver Broncos at the Nashville International Airport in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans emotion during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium on OCTOBER 18, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Alison P. McNabb/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the Thursday Night Football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on NOVEMBER 12, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker Wyatt Ray #57 of the Tennessee Titans and Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on NOVEMBER 08, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans prior to the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on NOVEMBER 22, 2020 in Baltimore, MD. Photo By Will Newton/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on NOVEMBER 08, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Cornerback Malcolm Butler #21 of the Tennessee Titans and Jayon Brown #55 during the Thursday Night Football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium on NOVEMBER 12, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Sam Carbine/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on NOVEMBER 08, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Sam Carbine/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during introductions before the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on NOVEMBER 08, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on NOVEMBER 01, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans and Joshua Kalu #46 during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on NOVEMBER 08, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Chicago Bears at Nissan Stadium on NOVEMBER 08, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on NOVEMBER 01, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the travel before the Tennessee Titans vs Minnesota Vikings on SEPTEMBER 26, 2020 in Minneapolis, MN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Nissan Stadium on OCTOBER 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Caleb Jones/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans and Linebacker Rashaan Evans #54 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Nissan Stadium on OCTOBER 25, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park on OCTOBER 22, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 - Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Buffalo Bills at Nissan Stadium on OCTOBER 13, 2020 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 - Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans thumbs up during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 - Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 20, 2020 - Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 - Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during the Monday Night Football game between the Tennessee Titans and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 25, 2020 - Linebacker Jayon Brown #55 of the Tennessee Titans during practice at Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
