Tennessee’s training camp got an emotional start Tuesday as owner Amy Adams Strunk and new head coach Robert Saleh took part in the Ice Bucket Challenge in support of former Titans running back Chris Johnson, who announced his ALS diagnosis on Good Morning America late last month.
The Titans shared a video of the moment, with Strunk and Saleh standing together to back Johnson, one of the most explosive players in franchise history. Strunk made clear the gesture was meant for more than social media.
“We are doing the challenge in support of our friend and teammate, Chris Johnson,” Strunk said. “We are thinking of him and his family in camp. We can’t wait to see him at our first game of the season when we induct him into the Titans Ring of Honor.”
Saleh then widened the message beyond Tennessee.
“With that said, we now challenge all other teams in the NFL and across the entire football world to join us in raising awareness for ALS research by also completing the Ice Bucket Challenge,” Saleh said. “You guys are next.”
Johnson is set to be inducted into the Titans Ring of Honor during the regular-season opener against the New York Jets at Nissan Stadium. The halftime ceremony will come against a familiar opponent for Johnson, who once played for the Jets, and for Saleh, who previously coached there.
The Titans are one of the teams opening training camp Tuesday, and there’s plenty to sort out once practice gets rolling. Battles are expected on the offensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary.
With Week 1 now a little more than a month away, Tennessee’s opener already carries a few layers: the Johnson honor, the matchup with the Jets and what Saleh called his “revenge spot.”
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