Titans Set to Shift Medical Partnership from Ascension Saint Thomas to Vanderbilt
Change is coming to the Tennessee Titans’ medical team, and it starts with a new healthcare partner. After a long-standing relationship with Ascension Saint Thomas, the Titans are preparing to pivot to a new partnership with Vanderbilt - a move that signals a fresh chapter for the franchise’s medical and sports science operations.
While the full scope of the transition hasn’t been announced, one thing is clear: this change will likely bring new faces to the sideline. On-field physicians - the ones responsible for those critical in-game evaluations and immediate medical decisions - are expected to come from Vanderbilt’s orthopedics team. In the NFL, these doctors aren’t just medical staff; they’re integral to a team’s infrastructure, often serving as the most visible representatives of a club’s healthcare partnership.
This is no small shift. Ascension Saint Thomas has been embedded in Titans history since the team’s arrival in Middle Tennessee.
Back in 1997 and 1998, the team operated out of a temporary Bellevue facility known as Baptist Sports Park - a makeshift setup that included office trailers and open fields. When the Titans moved to their current MetroCenter location in August of 1999, the name stuck until it officially became Saint Thomas Sports Park in 2013.
That branding - seen on everything from signage to practice gear - has been a staple of the Titans’ identity for over a decade.
Now, it’s uncertain whether Vanderbilt’s partnership will include those same naming rights or sponsorship elements like practice uniform patches. But even amid the changes, there’s continuity in key areas.
Dr. John Williams, who’s been with the franchise since 1997 and has served as head team physician since 2016, is expected to remain in his role.
His tenure and experience make him a steadying presence during this transition. Likewise, the team’s internal sports medicine staff, led by director Matt Gregg, will continue their day-to-day operations without disruption.
In a statement, the Titans acknowledged the end of an era while looking ahead to what’s next:
“We want to thank Ascension Saint Thomas for their longtime support of the Tennessee Titans. We look forward to sharing exciting news about our new healthcare partner in the near future.”
While the specifics of the Vanderbilt deal are still to come, this move reflects a broader trend in the NFL: franchises are increasingly aligning with major medical institutions that offer both cutting-edge sports science and regional influence. For the Titans, it’s a strategic shift - one that keeps player health and performance at the forefront as they continue to build for the future.