Titans, Jelly Roll Equally Fired Up After Surprise Appearance at Team Facility

Aug 22, 2024 at 11:12 AM

Jim Wyatt

Senior Writer/Editor

NASHVILLE – Titans Coach Brian Callahan wanted to provide a highlight for his players by surprising them in a team meeting with an appearance from Jelly Roll.

Turns out Jelly Roll, an award-winning musician and a lifelong Titans fan, left equally fired up, if not more.

"I'm like any other born and raised Titans fan, I'm nervous, right?," Jelly Roll said after meeting – and singing – to the team. "Man, I've had so many highlights today as a Titans fan. This day has been so cool."

It all happened on Wednesday, before Jelly Roll departed for a 56-city arena tour that started on Wednesday night in Ohio. From there it's on to Salt Lake City, Spokane and Seattle, then on to Oregon, California, Texas and places all over the United States. Jelly Roll's tour won't end until November 23 in Jacksonville, Florida.

But on Wednesday afternoon, Jelly Roll, whose given name is Jason Bradley DeFord, strolled into the main meeting room at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park after being introduced to the team by Callahan.

Jelly Roll's first words after coming through the double doors: "Titan the f*%! up boys!"

Players laughed, and cheered him on.

Jelly Roll, who grew up in Antioch, Tennessee, a Nashville suburb about 12 miles southeast of downtown Music City, then told the team his life story. He explained how he's been a Titans fan his entire life, even rooting for the team as he watched games on the Jumbotron, back when he spent years in the Juvenile Justice Center, just across the parking lot from Nissan Stadium.

With quarterback Will Levis sitting right in front of him, he sang "Save Me" to the team.

Titans defensive lineman T'Vondre Sweat came down the aisle and sang a few notes with him.

"Every time he took a step, everyone in the auditorium went, "Boom, boom, boom," a laughing Jelly Roll said of Sweat, describing the player-made sound effects. "It's the funniest s%&t I've ever seen. It was so good."

During the course of his afternoon at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park, Jelly Roll was also special guest on the Official Titans Podcast with Mike Keith and Amie Wells.

"Loved that," he said. "I got to do the OTP, which I watch myself."

He spent time with Callahan, and in the office of Titans General Manager Ran Carthon.

At the end of his meeting with the team, he got hugs from Levis, receiver DeAndre Hopkins and defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. Afterward, he regretted not getting a chance to shake Calvin Ridley's hand, and welcome him to the team.

"Hearing that team laugh through that door while coach (Callahan) was talking, before I even walked in, was such a good spirit," Jelly Roll said. "I expected it to be more of a tense environment. But it was real fun.

"And, just how down to earth Ran and Callahan are, that was cool to see."

Jelly Roll left impressed.

And optimistic.

"The more I get to hang around these guys, the more I think we're finna to have one of the best seasons we've had in a decade coming up right here," he said. "If there was ever a time to tune in to being a Tennessee Titans fan – if you are on the fence or you were a fan and got disconnected, I'd tune in. I think we're finna have a run. I'm here right now because I'm doubling down on the Titans."