Will Levis’ start-and-stop journey as a quarterback for the Tennessee Titans could be seen as having parallels with an Eagles’ hit from 1977.
Two years ago, Levis was the “New Kid in Town,” expected to lead the Titans to success. Instead, he and the Titans endured a 3-14 season, which led to another new kid coming to town in Cam Ward.
“Everybody loves him, don’t they?/He’s holding [the Titans’ starting job] and you’re still around”
And after Levis opted for shoulder surgery and missed all of last year, he became yesterday’s news to many Titans fans, just another draft pick that didn’t work out.
But as training camp 2026 has opened, there is Levis, back on the practice field for the Titans, “still around” as Glenn Frey would sing, and embracing what could have been an awkward situation with a fresh attitude that exudes confidence as he waits the next chapter of his NFL career will look like and where it will b played.
Levis spoke to the media for the first time in more than a year recently when the Titans made him available Saturday, and the 2023 second-round pick handled the session with grace, confidence and a new outlook not only on football, but his life.
“I’m just so excited and having fun,” Levis said. “Not playing last year, at first it was tough. I realized how much I needed that time, not just physically but mentally too to calm the nervous system, get away from ball for the first time since second grade, I think.
“I was able to make a lot of strides physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I’m just so excited, having fun and I feel like as long as I do that, then I’m going to be playing my best ball.”
Still no lack of confidence
The former Kentucky star even raised a few eyebrows with his confident approach, saying he knows he can still be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
“There are not 32 quarterbacks in this league better than me. I know that for sure,” Levis declared.
In clearing out the cobwebs of his past time with the Titans, Levis looks back and says he does not blame himself for what happened with the Titans in the 2024 season. Though he admitted he “could have played better,” Levis is not wrong in pointing out that the Titans’ problems two seasons ago were bigger than any one person’s performance.
While there is plenty of blame to go around regarding the Titans’ collective failure over the last four campaigns, Levis at times was the whipping boy, as comments like needing to “rewire his brain” caught plenty of flak and negative attention.
While that comment was made two years ago, Levis says the time off last year gave him a chance to do just that, and has made him better not only as a player, but as a person.
“I was probably talking about it before, but I didn’t know what I meant by that. I figured out what I needed from the mental side, and I took as many steps as I could to take that into account during my time away,” Levis says. “I feel like I’m feeling the dividends of it.”
Levis says he was finally able to make an honest assessment of himself and the things he has been through, which has helped his frame of mind.
“I think it was just truly trying to be honest with myself with the things that happened, whether it was on the field or off the field,” he said. “I think I’ve suppressed a lot of emotions I’ve had in the past to be the person to not care about it, and sometimes that’s not healthy.
“Addressing things that I felt that came up from the past that I wasn’t able to truly move on from, and sometimes it’s uncomfortable to have those conversations. That’s why I avoided it in the past. Being able to have them and have that time off and then address them was really healthy.”
Being ready when the call comes
That new approach has Levis less worried about what others say or think about him and more focused on becoming the best quarterback and teammate he can be.
“I’ve definitely grown a lot,” he said. “I feel like I was a kid when I got here, I’ve definitely turned into a man and there’s still a lot of growing I need to do … Just on the mental side, being able to not care as much about what other people say or what other people think.
“I feel like I worked a lot for other people’s approval in the beginning of my career, whereas I’m just trying to be the best version of me at this point, and I have more confidence than I’ve ever had because of that.
“I don’t need to go out there and win X amount of games before I can feel the confidence. Like I have the confidence now. I know. I’ve put the tape out there already. I’m a dang good quarterback in this league and even better than I ever have been.”
Most likely, Levis’ chance to be a starter again won’t happen in Tennessee, barring some major unforeseen occurrences. But for the moment that seems secondary to Levis.
“I’m not worried about the competition per se or the amount of opportunities that they’re gonna give me. I’ve just got to make sure I’m ready when they are given to me and just be prepared to do the best with that as possible,” he says.
And while Titans fans now profess their love for the new kid in town, Levis actually seems glad to still be around.
Terry McCormick also covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com