It has been a long time since Tennessee Titans fans were able to watch legendary running back Eddie George run the football. He was a fan favorite for years and was one of the best backs in the league during his era.

Now, he has become the head coach for Tennessee State in college.

With that being said, George still opens up about the NFL. He recently talked about his thoughts on the state of the league.

Touchdown Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. did an interview with George where he shared his opinion on where the league currently stands. He is clearly a fan of what he is seeing despite all of the changes that the NFL has made.

“Oh yeah, I mean, it’s (the NFL) changed over the years to become safer, and I get it,” George said. “But the quality of the game is still the same. I love it.”

In a time where so many former players are unhappy with how “soft” the league has become, George stands out as a big fan of the changes. While the NFL has changed a lot, the product being put on the field is still good football and entertaining to watch.

Throughout his NFL career, George was known as a bruising running back. He was a nightmare for opposing defenders to tackle.

He ended up playing in 141 career game, racking up 2,865 carries for 10,441 yards and 68 touchdowns. George averaged 3.6 yards per carry in a much tougher era to run the football.

George also ended up catching 268 passes for 2,227 yards and 10 more touchdowns.

As for the current state of the Titans, things do not look great. Will Levis has been benched ahead of Week 16 and there is expected to be a search for a new quarterback during the upcoming offseason.

So far this season, Tennessee has mustered up a brutal 3-11 record. There hasn’t been much for the fans to cheer about.

Hopefully, the Titans can figure things out and get back into playoff contention. George and the fans would then be able to enjoy football with their team winning again.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

College Football Playoff

First Round

No. 9 Tennessee (10-2) vs. No. 8 Ohio State (10-2)

7 p.m. CST Saturday (ABC, ESPN)

Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio

0 Previous games have been played in Ohio by Tennessee. The Volunteers have played football in 25 other states. Saturday’s game will be the first played at Ohio Stadium in December.

1 Previous game between Ohio State and Tennessee. On Jan. 1, 1996, the Volunteers defeated the Buckeyes 20-14 in the Citrus Bowl. The teams were tied for fourth in The Associated Press Poll entering the game.

2 Ohio State players have more than 750 rushing yards – RB Quinshon Judkins, who has 805 yards and eight TDs on 147 rushing attempts, and RB TreVeyon Henderson, who has 751 yards and six TDs on 108 rushing attempts. Seven other teams in the nation have two players with 750 rushing yards in 2024.

2 Tennessee players have been the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, including RB Dylan Sampson in 2024. The other SEC Offensive Player of the Year for the Volunteers was QB Hendon Hooker in 2022. Tennessee had six offensive players earn the SEC Player of the Year Award before the league split its individual honors in 2002 – HB Beattie Feathers in 1933, HB George Cafego in 1938, WB Bo Fox in 1939, TB Johnny Majors in 1955 and 1956, QB Heath Shuler in 1993 and QB Peyton Manning in 1997.

2 Ohio State players earned consensus All-American recognition for the 2024 season – C Seth McLaughlin and S Caleb Downs. McLaughlin is injured and will not play against Tennessee. Last season, Downs made nine tackles for Alabama in the Crimson Tide’s 34-20 victory over Tennessee on Oct. 21, 2023.

5 Victories, 14 losses and one tie for Ohio State against SEC opponents. The Buckeyes’ most recent game against an SEC opponent is a 14-3 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 29, 2023. Ohio State has a 2-13 record against SEC opponents in postseason games. The Buckeyes have a 26-29 overall bowl record.

6 First downs on 21 fourth-down attempts for Tennessee’s opponents in 2024, a 28.6 percent rate of success that is the lowest in the nation entering the bowl season. Ohio State has converted the most fourth downs in the Big Ten this season at 18-of-26 when going for it – a conversion rate of 69.2 percent.

10 Of 29 red-zone possessions for Ohio State’s opponents have ended with TDs, a 34.5 percent TD rate that is the lowest in the nation. Tennessee has scored touchdowns on 37 of its 60 red-zone possessions.

11 Days until the next game for the winner of Saturday’s contest. The Tennessee-Ohio State winner will face No. 1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in a CFP quarterfinal game.

12 Victories and five losses for Tennessee against Big Ten opponents in bowls. The Volunteers have one game against a Big Ten opponent that didn’t come in a bowl – a 23-22 victory over Iowa in the Kick-off Classic on Aug. 30, 1987, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Tennessee’s most recent game against a Big Ten opponent is a 35-0 victory over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024. Overall, Tennessee has a 31-25 record in bowl play.

14 TDs have been scored against Ohio State in 2024, the fewest in the nation. The Buckeyes also have yielded the fewest points at 131 and have the best scoring defense in the nation at 10.9 points per game. Tennessee ranks eighth in the nation in scoring with an average output of 37.3 points per game.

14 Consecutive non-SEC opponents have been beaten by Tennessee since the Volunteers lost to Purdue 48-45 in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30, 2021. The streak is the longest for Tennessee since it ran off 27 consecutive victories over non-SEC opponents between a 36-13 loss to Texas in Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 1969, and a 28-19 loss to Texas Tech in the Gators Bowl on Dec. 29, 1973.

21 Years since the previous time a Tennessee QB started in 10 victories in one season. Nico Iamaleava is the first freshman QB to start 10 victories in a season at Tennessee, and the first in any class to do so since Casey Clausen in 2003.

25.9 Yards per reception for Tennessee WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. in 2024, the best average in the nation entering the bowl season for any player with at least 25 receptions. Thornton has 25 receptions for 647 yards and six TDs. Thornton has six receptions that have gained at least 50 yards apiece, the most in the nation.

36 Years since an SEC team played at Ohio State. On Sept 24, 1988, the Buckeyes beat visiting Ohio State 36-33. Two other SEC teams have played at Ohio State. The Buckeyes beat Vanderbilt 20-0 on Oct. 14, 1933, and Kentucky 19-6 on Oct. 5, 1935.

42 Penalties have been marked off against Ohio State’s opponents this season, the fewest in the nation. Tennessee has been penalized 99 times, the most in the SEC in 2024.

57 Receptions for 934 yards and 10 TDs for Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith, who broke freshman school records in all three categories set by Cris Carter in 1984.

424 Punt-return yards for Tennessee, the most in the nation entering the bowl season. The Volunteers have averaged 15.7 yards on 27 punt returns in 2024. Eight punts have been returned against Ohio State for 45 yards this season.

1,485 Rushing yards and 22 rushing TDs for Tennessee RB Dylan Sampson in 2024, both single-season school records. Sampson also set a school single-season record with 136 points.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE SEC, GO TO OUR SEC PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

The Tennessee Titans will have a major decision to make during the upcoming NFL offseason. Following Will Levis’ benching ahead of this week’s game, it seems likely that the Titans will be looking for a quarterback upgrade.

Levis could stick on the roster, but it’s highly improbable that Tennessee would be comfortable with the same kind of quarterback situation that they have had in 2024.

Assuming the Titans do look to make a move at quarterback, who could they target?

Names like Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields have come up as potential targets. Obviously, the option to draft a rookie quarterback could end up being the route Tennessee chooses to go as well.

However, there has also been some speculation about Aaron Rodgers as a potential target for the Titans.

Once again, Rodgers has been connected to Tennessee. This time, the connection came from ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler.

“Does the news that the Titans are planning a quarterback switch this week spell the end for Will Levis in Tennessee?” Fowler wrote. “That certainly feels possible. Levis’ core issue is committing turnovers in bunches, and coach Brian Callahan has grown impatient with it. I can see a scenario in which the Titans continue to develop Levis this offseason, given the team might be picking in the back half of the top 10 in what’s considered a weaker QB class.”

He then continued on with his thoughts about the Titans’ quarterback situation and ended by suggesting Rodgers as a potential option.

“But even as the Titans went back to him Nov. 10, post-shoulder injury, he reverted to his turnover ways Sunday with three interceptions and a fumble against Cincinnati. Mason Rudolph, the likely starter this week, helps Tennessee’s offense play on schedule more efficiently. Where does Tennessee turn this offseason? Rodgers has played well the past two weeks, finally looks healthy and has been linked to the team in the past.”

Rodgers would not be a long-term pickup for Tennessee. He only has another two or maybe three years of football left in him.

If the Titans were to bring Rodgers in, they would have to find a young quarterback to learn behind him. Perhaps they would view this scenario as a chance for Levis to learn from one of the best to ever play the position.

So far this season with the New York Jets, Rodgers has played in all 14 games. He has completed 62.5 percent of his pass attempts for 3,255 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Rodgers has also picked up 101 yards on the ground.

Bringing in a 41-year-old quarterback would not be an ideal situation for Tennessee. He could give the team a chance to compete for the next couple of years and help mentor a young quarterback, but the Titans badly need to figure out their long-term future under center.

All of that being said, if the Jets choose to go a different direction and move on from Rodgers, the Titans would be an instant landing spot to watch.

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