NASHVILLE – When Van Jefferson walked into the Titans facility to sign his contract with the team last week, he couldn't help but think about how much his life had changed since his last time in the building.
It was back in 2014, when Jefferson was a senior at Ravenwood High School, and his father, Shawn, was receivers coach with the Titans. The young Jefferson was a regular visitor those days, when he'd cross paths with then-Titans receivers Nate Washington, Kendall Wright, Kenny Britt and others in the hallways.
He cheered on the Titans, mainly because he was pulling for his dad.
Fast-forward to last week, when Van Jefferson returned to Ascension Saint Thomas to sign with the team.
Jefferson, already with five NFL seasons under his belt, returned as a father of five, and a husband.
With him on his trip back was his wife, and the five children who range in age from 10 months old to eight years old.
"I have a crew," the 28-year-old Jefferson said with a smile. "I've been blessed."
A prep standout at Ravenwood who garnered Tennessee Sports Writers Association all-state and Tennessean all-Midstate honors before playing in college at Ole Miss and Florida, Jefferson is thrilled about being back with the Titans after playing for the Los Angeles Rams (2020-23), Atlanta Falcons (2023) and Pittsburgh Steelers (2024).
"Tennessee, it provided a lot of firsts for me," Jefferson said on Thursday from Pittsburgh. "I got my first exposure there, got my first (college) offer. I met some of my best friends to this day there.
"Being back, it's a full circle moment. Just coming to the facility, I remember when I used to drive there with my dad in the morning. To come back, and now be with the Titans myself, it's amazing. It's a blessing to play in the NFL regardless, but it's a little sweeter when you're able to come back and play for the team where you lived for an extended period of time. I'll always be grateful for that, and it adds more sweetness to it, playing for the hometown team."
News of Jefferson's signing also meant hearing from a lot of folks with a 615 area code.
"I got a lot of those texts, a lot of those calls, from my buddies who are excited for me to be back," Jefferson said with a smile. "And my high school coach, Will Hester, we were on the phone for probably an hour, just talking about me coming back and being around now, and how he'll be able to come see me play. It was hard for him to come see me play in L.A., and away from here.
"So, it was a great welcome from all the people I know. I am glad to be back."
In five NFL seasons, Jefferson has totaled 137 receptions for 1,876 yards and 12 touchdowns in 78 games. His breakout season came in 2021 for the Rams, when he recorded 50 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns. His receiving and yardage totals ranked third on the team that would go on to win Super Bowl LVI.
Last season in Pittsburgh, Jefferson tallied 24 grabs for 276 yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers.
Jefferson said there were a number of reasons he opted to sign with the Titans, in addition to his Tennessee roots, and it being his dad's former team. Shawn Jefferson, who played 13 NFL seasons himself, coached from 2013-2015 with the Titans. He's now receivers coach with the New York Jets.
"I had coach (Brian) Callahan coach me when I was at the Senior Bowl, coming out of college," Jefferson said of the Titans head coach. "And their offense is very similar to the West Coast style, similar to what I ran with the Rams. And (Titans receivers coach) Tyke Tolbert has a really good reputation around the league. So, that ultimately helped lead me to come to the Titans.
"In my conversations with the staff, it just felt really comfortable. In my heart it felt like Tennessee was the right place."
A 6-foot-1, 200-pounder, Jefferson has played in 78 games in his five-year career, with 47 starts.
After some modest numbers in recent years, he feels like he can surge even higher in Tennessee.
"Just me being consistent," Jefferson said. "Coming into the league, you always feel like you can get better each year and that is kind of where I am at right now. So, I just want to keep proving to myself I can put up the big numbers and can reach things I've always strived to get.
"Now it is about me putting it all together, and what better place to do it than back home and with an organization that wants to win and hopefully I can be a part of that."
Jefferson said he's already looking forward to getting to work this offseason.
He knows there's some uncertainty at the quarterback position in Tennessee, so he'll have to wait to see how things play out.
Jefferson knows one thing he can control is himself, so he plans to be ready to help.
"I think it's a waiting game, and I don't know if they're going to address that in the draft or if they're going to address it with a veteran free agent who is still out there," Jefferson said of the team's quarterback position. "At the end of the day, I know Will (Levis) was there last year and I'll get some work in with Will, and if we roll with Will, we roll with Will. Will is more than capable of coming out there and playing, and getting the job done. But if it's someone else we'll roll with that.
"Right now, it is just a waiting game and whoever steps out there, we'll do our best to win."
