Following the release of the NFL regular season schedule on Wednesday, it’s clear that the disrespect of the Tennessee Titans and their fans continues.
Whether it’s intentional or not can be debated, but the results are precise. First-overall pick Cam Ward and the Titans were snubbed and will not have a chance to play in prime-time. While their 3-14 record may play into that decision by the league and its schedule makers, coming off the heels of neglect during 2025 NFL draft coverage, one may wonder if there is more at work.
Tennessee was one of three teams across the league to be left off the national prime-time schedule, joining the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints in that category.
Ironically, Cleveland was the last team to hold a No. 1 overall selection not to be showcased in at least one night game (Myles Garrett in 2017) during their rookie season.
Undoubtedly, the 2024 Titans were a bad football team, although they did win their Monday Night Football appearance during their 3-14 campaign. But this disrespect seems to run deeper, as the major media outlets covering the draft were more concerned with the Jacksonville Jaguars trading the farm to move up and select Travis Hunter, the fall of Shedeur Sanders, and, as Kyle Brandt pointed out, Mr. Irrelevant.
Ward got almost no coverage as the first overall selection, appearing to be more of an afterthought for the analysts (and the league) than a centerpiece like past top picks. That attitude toward Ward and the organization continues here with the schedule, where Jacksonville and its prized rookie, Travis Hunter, garner one prime-time appearance with their dismal 4-13 record.
Of course, the fanbase plays a role, and bad teams like the New York Giants (3-14) and New England Patriots (4-13) have a larger international fan pool. With their multiple prime-time appearances, they will likely draw bigger numbers than the Titans.
But with Ward’s selection and the front office’s solid offseason work, the excitement surrounding the Titans is growing, and the NFL has done absolutely nothing to cultivate it.
The league had a giant opportunity to do this and had a perfect game on the schedule that would have generated ratings: New England vs. Tennessee and the return of Mike Vrabel to Nashville. Instead, they opted for multiple Monday Night Football matchups, including Tampa Bay vs. Detroit and Houston vs. Seattle.
Yes, the Titans must improve in 2025 and climb out of the hole they dug for themselves. But if the coverage they received during this offseason and the draft is any indication of what they have to do to become relevant in the eyes of the league, it is going to take a lot more than just winning more games.
