The 2021 season was the Tennessee Titans' 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 62nd overall, their 25th in the state of Tennessee, and their fourth under head coach Mike Vrabel. After a 34–3 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 17, the Titans clinched the AFC South for the second consecutive season. It would be the first time since 1960–1962 that the franchise would win its division in back-to-back seasons. The Titans finished 12–5, improving on their 11–5 record from the prior year and earning the AFC's No. 1 seed in the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The season ended with a 19–16 loss to eventual AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals, the third consecutive playoff loss.
Injuries were a significant storyline for the Titans throughout the season. Many standout players missed multiple games, including Derrick Henry, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year. Through the first 7 weeks of the season, Henry not only led the NFL in rushing yards but was on pace to break the Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. However, Henry would sustain a foot fracture in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts and was forced to miss the final 9 games of the regular season. Offseason acquisition Julio Jones, who was acquired in a major trade after 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, was additionally forced to miss 7 games due to a lingering hamstring injury. The Titans would eventually set an NFL record for most players used in a season with 91 individual players. The Titans' regular season success in spite of these injuries contributed to head coach Mike Vrabel winning the AP NFL Coach of the Year award. As of 2025, this is the most recent season that the Titans have made the playoffs, finished the season in first place in the AFC South and finished the season with a winning record.
Offseason
Coaching changes On January 15, 2021, Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was hired by the Atlanta Falcons to be their head coach after Smith helped the Titans reach franchise-high offensive production in 2020. Smith had been the Titans offensive coordinator for the previous two seasons and had been with the team since 2011. On January 29, 2021, tight ends coach Todd Downing was promoted to offensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Shane Bowen was promoted to defensive coordinator. Bowen had been the de facto defensive coordinator in 2020, but his defense that season was ranked 30th in sacks and 28th in yards allowed per game.
Roster changes
Reserve/future free agent contracts Player Position Paul Adams OT Davin Bellamy LB Rashard Davis WR Parker Hesse TE Cody Hollister WR Tommy Hudson TE Jan Johnson LB Brandon Kemp OT Mason Kinsey WR DeShone Kizer QB Daylon Mack NT Tucker McCann K Daniel Munyer C Nate Orchard OLB Matt Orzech LS Jared Pinkney TE Chester Rogers WR Tuzar Skipper ILB Maurice Smith CBPatrick Morris C
The Titans signed 14 players to futures contracts on January 11, 2021. Tight end Jared Pinkney was signed to a futures contract later on January 13, 2021. Linebacker Davin Bellamy and defensive end Daylon Mack were signed to futures contacts the next day on January 14, 2021. Wide receiver Mason Kinsey was signed to a futures contract on January 21, 2021. Finally, corner Maurice Smith was signed to a futures contract on February 1, 2021.
Free agents 2021 Tennessee Titans Free Agency Position Player Status* Date signed 2020 Team 2021 TeamOLBOla AdeniyiRFA March 22, 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers Tennessee TitansDTDenico AutryUFA March 18, 2021 Indianapolis Colts Tennessee TitansLB/STDaren BatesUFA October 18, 2021 Tennessee Titans Atlanta FalconsILBB. J. BelloRFA April 23, 2021 Los Angeles Chargers Tennessee TitansFBKhari BlasingameERFA March 5, 2021 Tennessee Titans Tennessee TitansILBJayon BrownUFA March 19, 2021 Tennessee Titans Tennessee TitansCBBreon BordersERFA March 1, 2021 Tennessee Titans Tennessee TitansOLBJadeveon ClowneyUFA April 14, 2021 Tennessee Titans Cleveland BrownsLB/STWill ComptonUFA December 8, 2021 Tennessee Titans Las Vegas RaidersLSMorgan CoxUFA March 18, 2021 Baltimore Ravens Tennessee TitansDEJack CrawfordUFA August 10, 2021 Tennessee Titans Arizona CardinalsWRCorey DavisUFA March 18, 2021 Tennessee Titans New York JetsDEMatt DickersonRFA March 22, 2021 Tennessee Titans Las Vegas RaidersGJamil DouglasRFA April 2, 2021 Tennessee Titans Buffalo BillsOLBBud DupreeUFA March 19, 2021 Pittsburgh Steelers Tennessee TitansLB/STNick DzubnarUFA August 16, 2021 Tennessee Titans Tennessee TitansFSMatthias FarleyUFA March 30, 2021 New York Jets Tennessee TitansTEAnthony FirkserRFA March 17, 2021 Tennessee Titans Tennessee TitansRBD'Onta ForemanRFA November 2, 2021 Tennessee Titans Tennessee TitansKStephen GostkowskiUFA Tennessee Titans NoneDTWoodrow HamiltonUFA April 23, 2021 Carolina Panthers Tennessee TitansDEBruce HectorUFA April 23, 2021 Carolina Panthers Tennessee TitansCBJanoris JenkinsUFA March 19, 2021 New Orleans Saints Tennessee TitansCBKevin JohnsonUFA March 22, 2021 Cleveland Browns Tennessee TitansCBChris JonesERFA April 23, 2021 Minnesota Vikings Tennessee TitansNTDaQuan JonesUFA April 20, 2021 Tennessee Titans Carolina PanthersSSJoshua KaluRFA March 30, 2021 Tennessee Titans New York GiantsCBDesmond KingUFA March 30, 2021 Tennessee Titans Houston TexansOTKendall LammUFA March 18, 2021 Cleveland Browns Tennessee TitansOTMarshall NewhouseUFA Tennessee Titans NoneLSMatt OvertonUFA August 16, 2021 Tennessee Titans Los Angeles ChargersRBSenorise PerryUFA Tennessee Titans NoneTEMyCole PruittUFA June 2, 2021 Tennessee Titans San Francisco 49ersWR/RSKalif RaymondUFA March 25, 2021 Tennessee Titans Detroit LionsWRJosh ReynoldsUFA March 23, 2021 Los Angeles Rams Tennessee TitansOTTy SambrailoUFA March 22, 2021 Tennessee Titans Tennessee TitansTEJonnu SmithUFA March 19, 2021 Tennessee Titans New England PatriotsCBTye SmithUFA June 3, 2021 Tennessee Titans Minnesota VikingsTEGeoff SwaimUFA March 17, 2021 Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans* Legend: = Addition = Departure = Re-signed
Departures
Position Player Date Released/Waived CB Malcolm Butler March 10, 2021 WR Adam Humphries February 25, 2021 OT Dennis Kelly March 16, 2021 CB Christopher Milton February 25, 2021 CB Kareem Orr May 6, 2021 SS Kenny Vaccaro March 10, 2021
Draft
2021 Tennessee Titans Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 22 Caleb Farley CB Virginia Tech 2 53 Dillon Radunz OT North Dakota State 3 92 Monty Rice LB Georgia 3* 100 Elijah Molden CB Washington 4 109 Dez Fitzpatrick WR Louisville 135 Rashad Weaver DE Pittsburgh6 205 Racey McMath WR LSU215 Brady Breeze S Oregon Pre-draft Notes/Trades
Titans received their 100th pick as a compensatory selection for the loss of Jack Conklin to the free agency market. Jacksonville traded a sixth-round selection (185) to Tennessee in exchange for a seventh-round selection (249) and linebacker Kamalei Correa. Kansas City traded a sixth-round selection (215) to Tennessee in exchange for a 2020 seventh-round selection originally acquired from New England via Denver. Sixth-round selection from Jacksonville was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for the cornerback Desmond King. Titans sent Isaiah Wilson and a 2022 seventh-round pick to the Miami for a 2021 seventh-round selection (232).
+ 2021 Tennessee Titans Draft Day Trades Draft pick year Round Overall Team Received 2021 3 85 to Green Bay Packers Received Green Bay's 2021 third-round selection (No. 92 overall) and fourth-round selection (No. 135 overall). 2021 4 126 to Carolina Panthers Received Carolina's 2021 fourth-round selection (No. 109 overall). 2021 5 166 2021 7 232
Undrafted free agents 2021 Tennessee Titans Undrafted Free Agents Name Position SchoolBlake HaubeilKOhio StateChandon HerringGBYUNaquan JonesNTMichigan StateCole BanwartGIowaTory CarterFBLSUMiller ForristallTEAlabamaBriley MooreTEKansas StateJustus ReedOLBVirginia TechMekhi SargentRBIowaJames SmithPCincinnati
Source:
Made regular season roster
Staff
Final roster
Team captains Ryan Tannehill (QB) Derrick Henry (RB) Jeffery Simmons (DT) Kevin Byard (FS) Brett Kern (P)
Source:
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Atlanta Falcons W 23–3 1–0 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 2 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–3 2–0 Raymond James Stadium Recap 3 Chicago Bears L 27–24 2–1 Nissan Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule The Titans' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 12 Arizona Cardinals L 13–38 0–1 Nissan Stadium Recap 2 September 19 at Seattle Seahawks W 33–30 1–1 Lumen Field Recap 3 September 26 Indianapolis Colts W 25–16 2–1 Nissan Stadium Recap 4 October 3 at New York Jets L 24–27 2–2 MetLife Stadium Recap 5 October 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 37–19 3–2 TIAA Bank Field Recap 6 Buffalo Bills W 34–31 4–2 Nissan Stadium Recap 7 October 24 Kansas City Chiefs W 27–3 5–2 Nissan Stadium Recap 8 October 31 at Indianapolis Colts W 34–31 6–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 9 November 7 at Los Angeles Rams W 28–16 7–2 SoFi Stadium Recap 10 November 14 New Orleans Saints W 23–21 8–2 Nissan Stadium Recap 11 November 21 Houston Texans L 13–22 8–3 Nissan Stadium Recap 12 November 28 at New England Patriots L 13–36 8–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 13 Bye 14 December 12 Jacksonville Jaguars W 20–0 9–4 Nissan Stadium Recap 15 December 19 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–19 9–5 Heinz Field Recap 16 San Francisco 49ers W 20–17 10–5 Nissan Stadium Recap 17 January 2 Miami Dolphins W 34–3 11–5 Nissan Stadium Recap 18 January 9 at Houston Texans W 28–25 12–5 NRG Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Titans began 0–1 for the first time since 2018, giving up six sacks on Ryan Tannehill. Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones alone had five sacks, tying a Cardinals franchise record and earning him NFC Defensive Player of the Week. The Cardinals got up 17-0 in the second quarter before Tannehill ran in for a touchdown, however the extra point was missed by new kicker Michael Badgley. The Cardinals continued dominating on both sides of the ball, with Kyler Murray throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns, and the defense holding Derrick Henry to 58 yards on 17 carries. Badgley would go on to miss a field goal as well, being waived the next day. The Titans only scored one touchdown, a pass from Tannehill to A. J. Brown, in the entire second half. The Titans would lose 38-13.
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
The Titans started the game slow, down 24-9 in the third quarter and 30-16 in the fourth. However they came back to tie, with Derrick Henry scoring on a one-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left, making it 30-30 and forcing the game into overtime. New kicker Randy Bullock, kicked a game-winning 36-yard field goal in overtime to win 33-30. Henry rushed 35 times for 182 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard TD in the fourth quarter. Henry would also catch a career high six receptions for 55 yards, winning AFC Offensive Player of the Week and FedEx Ground Player of the Week for his performance. Wide receiver Julio Jones caught six catches for 128 yards in his first 100-yard game with the Titans. Bullock made four of his five kicks, and would remain the Titans kicker for the rest of the season.
Week 3: vs. Indianapolis Colts