Tennessee

Have the Titans ever had the No. 1 overall pick? Tennessee draft history

Published

8 months ago

April 24, 2025

Have the Titans ever had the No. 1 overall pick? Tennessee draft history

The Tennessee Titans are on the clock with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Have the Titans ever picked first before in NFL draft history?

Kind of. The Titans franchise began in 1960 as the Houston Oilers before moving to Tennessee in 1997 and changing its name to the Titans two years after that. The Oilers have held the No. 1 overall pick twice before, but both instances were in the 1970s when the team was still in Houston.

This year’s draft will be the first time in history that the Titans will hold the No. 1 overall pick.

Have the Titans ever had the No. 1 overall pick?

Not exactly. This year’s draft is the first in which the Titans hold the top pick. Before the team moved to Tennessee, they were the Houston Oilers, and the Oilers owned the No. 1 overall picks in 1973 and 1978.

In 1973, the Oilers selected University of Tampa defensive end John Matuszak with the first overall pick. He played just one year for the Oilers before joining the Houston Texans of the World Football League.

Five years later, the Oilers made Texas running back Earl Campbell the first overall selection of the 1978 NFL Draft. He won an NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year award in his second season and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991.

Who was the highest pick in Titans history?

Outside of those two top picks as the Oilers, the Titans have also held the No. 2 overall pick.

In 2015, Tennessee selected Oregon quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota with the second pick in the draft. He is currently signed to the Washington Commanders as backup quarterback to Jayden Daniels.

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Tennessee

Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap

Published

11 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Nonprofit rescues 11 ‘emaciated and suffering’ animals from Tennessee property ahead of dangerous cold snap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) is asking for donations after rescuing 11 animals Friday.

ARC said it was contacted by law enforcement in an unidentified rural Tennessee area to rescue five dogs and six cats in what the nonprofit is calling “Operation Cold Snap.”

In the rescue, the nonprofit took in two emaciated Great Danes, three Pit Bulls and six cats. ARC said some of the animals are emaciated and suffering from untreated bite wounds and infections.

The nonprofit said the animals were kept without heat or regular care.

ARC shared a video of the rescue. In it, you can see the property s in disarray with trash littering the floor and overturned furniture.

This rescue comes just days before Middle Tennessee is expected to see its coldest temperatures of the season.

Now, ARC is asking for donations to help the 11 animals rescued Operation Cold Snap. Those interested in donating can do so on the nonprofit’s website.

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Tennessee

Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

Published

23 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Alex Golesh hires former Tennessee analyst as Auburn’s coordinator

Alex Golesh was introduced as Auburn’s head coach on Dec. 1. He served as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and tight ends coach from 2021-22.

Golesh announced the hiring of Jacob Bronowski as Auburn’s special teams coordinator. He served as the Vols’ special teams analyst in 2021 under head coach Josh Heupel. Bronowski was also under Heupel at UCF in 2020 as special teams quality control.

“His track record is outstanding,” Golesh said of Bronowski. “He developed multiple national award contenders, including a Lou Groza Award winner, and has led some of the top special teams units in the country.

“I saw up close when we worked together before that coach Bronowski understands that special teams can be a championship difference-maker, and he’s proven he can develop elite specialists. He brings exactly the attention to detail and relentless work ethic we need in our program.”

Auburn will play at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2026.

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Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Tennessee football’s 2026 schedule complete with opponents, dates

Tennessee football will host Lane Kiffin, Alex Golesh and possibly Arch Manning at Neyland Stadium in the 2026 season.

UT’s opponents for the next four seasons were previously announced. On Dec. 11, the SEC released the dates of every conference game, providing the full picture of the 2026 schedule.

Game times and television designations will be announced later.

Texas will make its first trip ever to Tennessee on Sept. 26. Manning, the Longhorns quarterback, is expected to return for the 2026 season rather than enter the NFL draft. If so, he’ll face the Vols on the home turf of his uncle, legendary quarterback Peyton Manning.

Golesh, the former UT offensive coordinator, is Auburn’s new coach. He will return to Knoxville for an Oct. 3 game.

Alabama will play at Tennessee on Oct. 17, continuing their Third Saturday in October rivalry game.

Kiffin, the polarizing former UT coach, is now coaching LSU after bolting Ole Miss after the regular season ended. He will return to Knoxville for a Nov. 21 game. Three of the five SEC teams visiting Neyland Stadium will have a first-year coach, including Kentucky’s Will Stein on Nov. 7.

Tennessee will play Alabama, Kentucky and Vanderbilt as annual SEC opponents in the league’s new nine-game conference schedule. Its other six opponents will rotate each season. That means each school will play every SEC opponent home and away every four years.

Tennessee will have one open week on Oct. 31 and thus won’t play on Halloween.

Here is Tennessee’s week-to-week schedule for the 2026 season.

Tennessee football 2026 schedule

Sept. 5: Furman
Sept. 12: At Georgia Tech
Sept. 19: Kennesaw State
Sept. 26: Texas*
Oct. 3: Auburn*
Oct. 10: At Arkansas*
Oct. 17: Alabama*
Oct. 24: At South Carolina*
Oct. 31: Open
Nov. 7: Kentucky*
Nov. 14: At Texas A&M*
Nov. 21: LSU*
Nov. 28: At Vanderbilt*

*SEC game

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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