NASHVILLE – At 15 years of age, Jelly Roll sat in his cell at the Juvenile Justice Center, and he wondered what the rest of his life would look like.
Jelly Roll, an award-winning musician, was known by the court system as Jason DeFord back then.
And, for being a troublemaker.
"The darkest moments of my life were in this building," he said last week, standing on the same lunchroom floor he stood on as a teenager. "When you are 15 years old, and you committed a crime that has jeopardized the rest of your life, it's scary. This is the most stressful place I've ever been."
The Juvenile Justice Center lit up last week, at least for a day.
Jelly Roll returned, and he brought the Tennessee Titans with him.
It was a plan Jelly Roll pitched to the Titans when he visited Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park back in training camp. He wanted to unite with members of his childhood NFL team and visit the building before it is demolished, and the new Juvenile Justice Center opens across town in 2027, the same year new Nissan Stadium opens.
Jelly Roll, you see, watched Titans games on the Jumbotron when he was at the detention center, located just a parking lot away from the stadium, and a few miles down the road from where he was born, in Nashville's Baptist Hospital.
The Titans gave him something to root for while he worked on himself.
So, last week, roughly 20 members of the Titans organization joined Jelly Roll, and spent time with the kids at the Juvenile Justice Center. They ate lunch with the kids, spent time with them, and they toured the building to get a feel for what their daily lives look like. The Titans walked into their cells, and into their classrooms. They saw where they showered.
It was a moving experience for all parties.
Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons chatted for 30 minutes with one of the adolescents, who was raised by a single mom with seven kids, without a father figure in his life. The boy told Simmons how the streets messed him up, and how he wanted to change. But the youngster had committed a serious crime, and he was now facing years of detainment.
"It was heart-touching, and it kind of left me speechless," said Simmons, whose mom raised five children on her own. "Just to be here, it opens your eyes, and it makes you want to make sure the people in your life are on the right track.
"One decision can change your whole life, and I tried to tell (some of kids): We all make bad decisions in life, it's how you bounce back from it. Hopefully we gave them a good day, and some hope."
Simmons was joined by Titans teammates Will Levis, T'Vondre Sweat, JC Latham, Calvin Ridley, Arden Key, Peter Skoronski, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Ryan Stonehouse.
Head coach Brian Callahan was there, and so was general manager Ran Carthon. President and Chief Executive Officer Burke Nihill also spent time with the kids.
The Titans offered their time, and hope.
"To see how they are living, it puts things in perspective," Ridley said. "So, you try to give them encouraging words to try and change their situation.
"I walked around and went in their cells, and it's eye-opening. If you are in this place, at this age, it should change you. You should want to get out and want to be better. … The kids I talked to, I told them: You're young. You only have so many chances to get it right. I grew up with a lot of my friends like this. The No.1 thing I hear when I go home is: 'I should have done what you did, stayed in school.' I encouraged them to try and do positive things, and to get better, do better."
The kids also offered advice to the Titans.
Callahan was asked about past trades made by the franchise, including one that took place place prior to him being with the team.
"These kids are all fans," Callahan said with a smile, "and they all have opinions."
The day included plenty of laughter from the kids.
Some of them razzed Titans players about how they'd lost their snacks to fans of other NFL teams because of them.
One of them recorded a song in a studio Jelly Roll funded at the facility, and it was played during a break.
At one point, Key was challenged to a push-up contest with one of the kids. It was a spirited competition, to say the least.
"That was fun," a smiling Key said. "It's a blessing, just to come in and see these kids, to put a smile on their faces. I think we definitely brought them some joy today, maybe one of the best days they've had."
"It was a pretty awesome experience," added Sweat. "Much love for Jelly Roll, for him doing what he's doing for the juveniles. He's been through that life. So, it was awesome to see the kids smile. They got some peace of mind other than sitting in those walls, thinking about who knows what. It's a blessing we could even go there and be able to chop it up with them a little bit. I hope God blesses them, and they can fix what went on in their past."
The visitors felt the sobering reality of what life is like for the teenagers, who are paying for their mistakes.
Members of the Titans video and content team were also invited to attend, but with restrictions. Maintaining the anonymity of the youth in the pre-trial housing facility was required. Capturing content that shows faces, or even features like tattoos, was prohibited to meet court requirements.
Anthony Smith, Public Information Coordinator at Juvenile Court, said the kids at the facility range in age from 14 to 18 years old. Some of them have been there a short time, some of them for a few years.
Because of the seriousness of their crimes, some of them will be detained in the justice system for many years to come, as they become adults.
"We all know, by the science, that kids make bad choices," Smith said. "Their brains are not fully developed. A lot of it is bad decision-making, why they're here. But a lot of them haven't murdered or killed anybody, and they will be back in society. So, you have to work with them, encourage them, teach them.
"An event like this, to let them know our next-door neighbors, the Titans, that they care about what is going on over here, this has been great. I see the kids on a daily basis, and most of the time it's not in the happiest of situations. You see ear-to-ear grins rarely in here, so this is amazing. I saw some of their teeth for the first time."
Jelly Roll knows the reality all too well. Some of the same folks who work at the Juvenile Justice Center today were there when he was, 25 years ago.
Last Tuesday afternoon, before he headed to Bridgestone Arena for another sold out show on his concert tour, Jelly Roll went up to his old cell, and he took in the same view he did as a troubled teenager, when he'd watch the Titans games on the Jumbotron.
In time, he changed his life for the better. He said he wants to help others.
He's thrilled the Titans joined him.
"There are kids in here, 15-year-old kids, who are staring down the barrel of 20 to 30 years," he said. "It's double the time they've been alive. So, to me, that's what makes today even more special. Today, they are kids again, because they've been inmates for a long time, they've been convicts. Some of these kids have committed horrendous crimes, but they are kids today. The coolest thing about today is I saw a bunch of kids be kids, smiling, and it's @&%$*! awesome.
"This facility will buzz for a while about this."
Jelly Roll and about 20 members of the Tennessee Titans spent time with kids at the Juvenile Justice Center. The group got a glimpse into daily life at the facility, shared stories over lunch, and gave these teens encouragement and hope for a second chance.
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans and Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker Arden Key #49 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll and Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll and Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll and Outside linebacker Arden Key #49 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll and Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll and Outside linebacker Arden Key #49 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tackle JC Latham #55 of the Tennessee Titans, Offensive lineman Peter Skoronski #77 of the Tennessee Titans,Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans, Ernest and Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll and Ernest visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker Arden Key #49 of the Tennessee Titans, Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans and Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker Arden Key #49 of the Tennessee Titans, Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat #93 of the Tennessee Titans, Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans and Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans and Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans and Ernest visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll and Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans, Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat #93 of the Tennessee Titans and Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll and Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine #15 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
President and CEO of the Tennessee Titans Burke Nihill visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons #98 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
President and CEO of the Tennessee Titans Burke Nihill visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Punter Ryan Stonehouse #4 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans, Executive VP/General Manager Ran Carthon of the Tennessee Titans and Ernest visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Tackle JC Latham #55 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Jelly Roll visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
Ernest and Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
visits the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on November 26, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans
