Tyjae Spears isn’t shying away from the expectations hanging over the Titans this offseason. With Tennessee turning the page on multiple fronts - new coaching staff, new roster pieces and even a new logo - Spears is already calling his shot.
The Titans backfield piece said the changes around the team have him believing a turnaround is coming in 2026. After spending his first two NFL seasons in a stretch where the losses have piled up, Spears pointed to his own college experience as proof that hard work can eventually flip the script.
“I went through some (tough years) in college,” Spears said. “So, my first few years in college were kind of rough, dealing with injuries, dealing with the record. Eventually, we keep on working hard and working together, something has to change, and this is the year to change.”
He didn’t stop there. Spears followed that up with a direct prediction for what Tennessee’s season will look like.
“We have a new logo, and we have a lot of new things around here. So, we are going to have a winning record this year.” Spears said.
That confidence comes at a time when the Titans are trying to build a new identity. The franchise unveiled redesigned uniforms and a new logo this offseason, a fresh look meant to signal a new era while still nodding to the team’s Oilers roots.
The changes aren’t just cosmetic. Tennessee has also overhauled the roster, adding support for quarterback Cam Ward and giving the offense a new shape. Spears is part of that group, along with Carnell Tate and Tony Pollard, while the defense has also picked up help on the defensive line.
It’s a far cry from the roster the Titans had in 2021, when they earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Since then, the team has moved on from several major names, including Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill, Kevin Byard III, and A.J. Brown.
Now Spears is betting that the combination of new faces, new energy and a new look will finally push Tennessee back into the win column in a big way.
In Other News...
Vanderbilt May Finally Have The Safeties To Change Everything
Vanderbilts defense has spent enough time searching for stability in the back end that the safety room now looks like one of the more promising places on the roster. CJ Heard is moving into a bigger leadership role after a full season of being asked to handle heavy responsibility, and the Commodores also have added a transfer with proven ball skills who should give the secondary a different kind of edge.
For a program trying to make its defense more disruptive, that mix matters. Heards next step is not just about being steady, but about becoming more vocal and more impactful, while the new faces around him give Vanderbilt a chance to play with more confidence and range on the back end. The question now is whether that experience can translate into the kind of playmaking that changes games instead of just keeping them manageable. [Read more 🡒]