TEAM NOTES
- The Titans launched the 65th season in franchise history and the 26th campaign in its "Titans era" (1999–present).
- Titans head coach Brian Callahan began his tenure as the 20th head coach in franchise history. At 40 years and 90 days old, Callahan, the seventh-youngest of the 32 head coaches in the NFL, became the organization's second-youngest head coach. The only younger head coach to take over the team was Jeff Fisher, who did so in 1994 at 36 years and 269 days old.
- The Titans used 11 total starters who were added to the roster since the end of the 2023 season, including six on defense: defensive linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day and T'Vondre Sweat; linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr.; cornerbacks L'Jarius Sneed and Chidobe Awuzie; and safety Quandre Diggs. The new additions who started on offense were left tackle JC Latham; center Lloyd Cushenberry III; running back Tony Pollard; and wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd.
- Seven total rookies participated in the game for the Titans: left tackle JC Latham (first-round pick), defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat (second round), cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (fifth round), wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson (sixth round), linebacker James Williams (seventh round), outside linebacker Jaylen Harrell (seventh round) and defensive back Julius Wood (undrafted with Dallas).
- In total, 20 players participated in the opener for the Titans after being added to the roster since the end of the 2023 campaign.
- The Titans rushed for 140 yards at Chicago. That was their best total in a season opener since they totaled 162 rushing yards at Kansas City on Sept. 7, 2014.
- The Titans averaged 25.4 yards on five kickoff returns—all by rookie Jha'Quan Jackson. The kickoff return average was the team's best in a game with at least five kickoff returns since a 25.6-yard average against the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 30, 2018.
TEAM NOTES – DEFENSE
- The Titans defense limited the Bears offense to 11 first downs, 148 total yards and 64 net passing yards.
- The 148 total yards allowed by the Titans defense was the unit's best performance since allowing 127 yards against Pittsburgh on Sept. 19, 2010. It was the Titans defense's best Week 1 performance since 1995 (146 yards allowed at Jacksonville on Sept. 3, 1995).
- The 64 net passing yards allowed by the Titans defense was the fewest by a Titans opponent since Pittsburgh passed for 21 total yards on Sept. 19, 2010.
- The Bears offense was limited by the Titans defense to a pair of conversions on 13 attempts on third-down. The 15.4 percent conversion rate on third down was the lowest by a Titans opponent since the Chargers converted 14.3 percent (two-of-14) against the Titans on Sept. 17, 2023.
- The 11 first downs by the Bears were the fewest by a Titans opponent since the Texans totaled 10 first downs at Houston on Oct. 30, 2022.
- The Titans won the time-of-possession battle against the Bears by controlling the ball for 34 minutes and 53 seconds (25:07 by Chicago).
- In the first half, the Titans defense allowed the Bears only five first downs, 50 total yards and 16 rushing yards. The Bears did not convert on any of their six third-down attempts in the first half.
- The 50 yards allowed by the Titans in the first half were the fewest by a Titans opponent in any single half since the Titans defense allowed 35 yards in the first half at Houston on Oct. 30, 2022.
CB CHIDOBE AWUZIE
- Started in his Titans debut and recorded one tackle.
- Part of a defensive effort that allowed only 93 total receiving yards.
WR TYLER BOYD
- Started in his Titans debut.
- Totaled 18 yards on three receptions.
CB JARVIS BROWNLEE JR.
- Totaled two tackles, including a tackle for loss, in his NFL debut.
RB JULIUS CHESTNUT
- Recovered a Bears fumble on special teams in the first quarter, when Velus Jones Jr. muffed a kickoff return. The takeaway gave the Titans possession at Chicago's 23-yard line and led to a field goal.
S QUANDRE DIGGS
- Started in his Titans debut, increasing his streak to 68 consecutive games started.
- Tallied four tackles.
- Part of a defensive effort that allowed only 93 total receiving yards.
K NICK FOLK
- Made his only field goal attempt, a 40-yarder in the second quarter, and made both of his extra point attempts.
- With his 383rd career field goal, he tied Nick Lowery for 18th place in NFL history.
S AMANI HOOKER
- Tied for the team lead with six tackles and also totaled two passes defensed and one forced fumble.
- Part of a defensive effort that allowed only 93 total receiving yards.
- Credited with a forced fumble in the second quarter, but the ball was recovered by the Bears.
WR DeANDRE HOPKINS
- With an eight-yard reception, he extended his active streak to 163 consecutive games with a reception—every game he has played since he entered the NFL. He owns the third-longest such streak to begin a career in NFL history behind only Marvin Harrison (190 consecutive games) and Keyshawn Johnson (167).
- With his 929th career reception, he surpassed Antonio Brown (928) for 21st place on the NFL's all-time receptions list.
WR JHA'QUAN JACKSON
- Handled all of the team's kickoff returns and punt returns in his NFL debut.
- Averaged 7.5 yards on four punt returns (long of 12) and averaged 25.4 yards on five kickoff returns (long of 30).
LB ERNEST JONES IV
- Totaled three tackles and a pass defensed in his Titans debut.
DL SEBASTIAN JOSEPH-DAY
- Started in his Titans debut.
- Totaled three tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and one pass defensed. He became the first Titans defender to reach each of those marks in a game since Denico Autry accomplished the feat against the Houston Texans on Dec. 24, 2022.
- Credited with a 19-yard sack of Caleb Williams in the first quarter. It was his 12th career sack. The 19 sack yards on the play were the most yards on a single sack by a Titans player since Dec. 1, 2021, when Derick Roberson sacked Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence for a 20-yard loss.
OLB HAROLD LANDRY III
- Tied for the team lead with six tackles and also tallied a sack.
- Recorded his first sack of the season in the third quarter, dropping Caleb Williams for a 10-yard loss on third down. Landry increased his career total to 42.5 sacks, which ranks 11th in franchise history.
T JC LATHAM
- Became the first Titans rookie to start at left tackle in Week 1 since Michael Roos in 2005.
QB WILL LEVIS
- Made his first Week 1 start and his 10th career start.
- Completed 19 of 32 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions. He added 36 rushing yards on four carries.
- Converted a third-and-15 with a 22-yard pass to Calvin Ridley in the second quarter.
- Tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Chig Okonkwo in the second quarter. It was his ninth career touchdown pass.
CB ROGER McCREARY
- Totaled five tackles and led the defense with a career-high three tackles for loss.
- His three tackles for loss were the most by a Titans defensive back since cornerback Alterraun Verner had three tackles for loss against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 28, 2012
LB KENNETH MURRAY JR.
- Started in his Titans debut.
- Tied for the team lead with six tackles.
TE CHIG OKONKWO
- Started and caught two passes for 15 yards and a touchdown.
- Hauled in a 17-yard touchdown pass from Will Levis in the second quarter. It was his fifth career touchdown reception.
RB TONY POLLARD
- Started in his Titans debut.
- Led the team with 82 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
- Added 12 yards on three receptions to give him 94 scrimmage yards in the contest.
- Rushed for a 14-yard gain in the first quarter, and later on the same drive, he crossed the goal line on a 26-yard run. It was his 24th career touchdown run and his 30th total career touchdown (five receiving, one kickoff return). He totaled 54 yards on four carries during the drive.
- Moved past 5,000 career scrimmage yards, finishing the contest with 5,034 scrimmage yards, including 3,703 rushing yards and 1,331 receiving yards.
WR CALVIN RIDLEY
- Started in his Titans debut.
- Led the offense with 50 receiving yards on three caches.
- Converted a third-and-15 with a 22-yard reception in the second quarter.
- Tallied his ninth consecutive game with at least three receptions.
DT JEFFERY SIMMONS
- Registered two tackles, including a tackle for loss.
CB L'JARIUS SNEED
- Started in his Titans debut and totaled four tackles.
- Part of a defensive effort that allowed only 93 total receiving yards.
RB TYJAE SPEARS
- Totaled 21 yards on four rushing attempts.
- Added 11 yards on a team-high four receptions.
P RYAN STONEHOUSE
- Played in the regular season for the first time since suffering a season-ending knee injury on Dec. 3, 2023.
- Averaged 53.6 yards on five punts (34.0 net) with one punt placed inside the 20 and one punt blocked.
- Logged his eighth consecutive game with at least one punt of 55 yards, the longest active streak in the NFL.
DT T'VONDRE SWEAT
- Recorded a start in his first NFL game.
TE NICK VANNETT
- Posted two receptions for 11 yards in his Titans debut.
WR NICK WESTBROOK-IKHINE
- Led the team and set a career high with two special teams tackles.
