NASHVILLE – On Julius Chestnut's right wrist is a reminder of how cancer has impacted his life, and family.
The Titans running back has the names "Joe" and "Gilbert" tattooed on him. It serves as a daily reminder of his grandfather and uncle, who lost their lives to lung cancer.
Around the same time Chestnut decided to get those tattoos, his father was diagnosed with skin cancer, although he kept it a secret from him at the time. Keith Chestnut didn't want his son to worry about him.
Years later, when Chestnut was with the Titans, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She, too, initially hid the diagnosis from her son, not wanting to lose focus during his rookie NFL season.
"Cancer has been all around me, in my family," said Chestnut, who said he's lost aunts and cousins to cancer as well. "It's hard. But it also allows you to see the strength people have."
During the NFL's Crucial Catch initiative, Chestnut plans to pay tribute to his mom and dad.
He'll wear a t-shirt in pregame on Sunday at Nissan Stadium that reads "I play for Nichelle and Keith Chestnut," his mother and father.
Now in its 16th season, Crucial Catch is a year-round initiative in partnership with the American Cancer Society (ACS) to educate fans on the importance of taking their health into their own hands.
Other Titans coaches and players will wear t-shirts honoring their loved ones.
Throughout the week leading up to the game and during pregame, players and coaching staff will wear "I Play For Shirts". The shirts represent different individuals who have been impacted by cancer in the Titans lives. The shirt color represents the specific cancer, and the name is the individual who they are playing in honor of.
Offensive lineman Peter Skoronski #77 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine #15 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat #93 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day #69 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill #60 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Kicker Nick Folk #6 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Longsnapper Morgan Cox #46 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Tackle JC Latham #55 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Mason Rudolph #11 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Defensive lineman Isaiah Iton #95 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Running back Tyjae Spears #2 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Safety Quandre Diggs #28 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Running back Tony Pollard #20 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Will Levis #8 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV #53 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Defensive lineman Keondre Coburn #91 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Head coach Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Offensive Line Coach Bill Callahan of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Executive VP/General Manager Ran Carthon of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Tight Ends Coach Justin Outten of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Outside Linebackers Coach Ben Bloom of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Assistant Sports Performance - Speed Training Coach John Shaw of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Running Backs Coach Randy Jordan of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Payton McCollum of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Offensive Assistant Matt Jones of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Special Teams Coordinator Colt Anderson of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Quarterbacks Coach Bo Hardegree of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Strength and Conditioning Assistant Coach Brian Bell of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Grant Thorne of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Assistant Sports Performance Coach Haley Roberts of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Offensive Assistant Kylan Butler of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Assistant Defensive Line/Pass Rush Specialist Clinton McMillan of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Defensive Coordinator Dennard Wilson of the Tennessee Titans during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Defensive quality control coach Lori Locust during I Play For portraits at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park on October 07, 2024 in Nashville, TN. Photo By Jessie Rogers/Tennessee Titans
Romonda Jordan, wife of Titans running backs coach Randy Jordan, will serve as the Honorary 12th Titan for Sunday's game vs the Colts. Jordan was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in June 2023, but she said earlier this week she's doing well after a double mastectomy.
Chestnut said he's made it a point to check on Romonda, because he understands what support, and prayer, means.
"My parents, they are the strongest people I know," Chestnut said. "My family, personally, I've dealt with death from cancer. My Mom was worried when she got the news. It was a battle for her mentally. And when she told me, I broke down. But she's the strongest person I know. She's a fighter."
Chestnut said he was in high school when his father was diagnosed with skin cancer. Keith Chestnut made trips to the hospital, and he ultimately had surgery to get the cancer removed from his back, before he eventually told his son the news.
Nichelle was diagnosed during the latter part of the 2022 season. She waited until after the Titans had finished the season to tell him doctors had found breast cancer in their scans. Nichelle Chestnut underwent chemotherapy, and she had a mastectomy.
Chestnut said his father is cancer-free, and his mother just had her one-year anniversary of being clear this past summer.
On Sunday, and every day, Chestnut will have his parents – and everyone he's lost to cancer – on his mind. Chestnut said he's been inspired by the strength of others.
"I have seen so many survivors, and it's beautiful to see the strength of others," Chestnut said. "I try to do everything I can to spread awareness and keep the awareness around."
