The Tennessee Titans quarterback situation has been in flux for a few years now. After a promising start to the 2019 season, the team has struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position ever since. The Titans have gone through several quarterbacks over the past two years, including Marcus Mariota, Ryan Tannehill, and Logan Woodside.
The team began the 2019 season with Marcus Mariota as the starting quarterback. Mariota had been the starter in Tennessee since 2015 and was coming off a 2018 season where he threw for 2,528 yards and 11 touchdowns. At the start of the season, the Titans looked poised to make a playoff run with Mariota under center. Unfortunately, Mariota suffered several nagging injuries throughout the season, including a neck injury that forced him to miss the final six games of the season.
Following Mariota’s injury, the Titans turned to veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill to fill his role. Tannehill had been a journeyman quarterback for most of his career and was coming off a 2018 season with the Miami Dolphins, where he threw for 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Tannehill had a strong finish to the 2019 season, leading the Titans to the playoffs and throwing for 2,742 yards and 22 touchdowns in 12 games.
The Titans were hopeful that Tannehill could continue his success into the 2020 season, but it was not to be. Tannehill struggled in 2020, throwing for only 2,742 yards and 12 touchdowns in 11 games. He was eventually replaced by Logan Woodside midway through the season. Woodside had spent the previous two seasons on the Titans practice squad and was an unproven commodity. He had a decent outing in his first start, throwing for 190 yards and a touchdown, but was quickly replaced by Tannehill after a few games.
The Titans have since gone back to Tannehill as the starting quarterback, and he has continued his strong play from 2019. Tannehill had a career-high 33 touchdown passes in 2020 and led the Titans to the AFC Championship Game. He was recently rewarded with a four-year contract extension worth $118 million.
Despite Tannehill’s success, the Titans still have questions at the quarterback position. Tannehill is 32 years old and is likely nearing the end of his prime. The Titans have yet to find a reliable backup quarterback and may have to look to the draft or free agency to fill the position.
The Titans’ quarterback situation has been a roller coaster ride over the past few years, but they have managed to find success with Tannehill under center. Tannehill has been a steady presence and has led the Titans to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. The Titans will need to find a reliable backup to Tannehill in the near future, but for now, he looks to be the man in Tennessee.
