Will Levis was supposed to be the future of the Tennessee Titans. Just a year ago, he was a promising second-round pick out of Kentucky, stepping into the spotlight after veteran Ryan Tannehill’s decline and injury woes. The Titans made it clear that they saw potential in Levis—an arm talent with mobility and toughness—and he was given the opportunity to start ten games in 2024, showing flashes of brilliance amidst the growing pains expected of a young quarterback in a transitional offense. But everything changed in April when the Titans used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select Washington State’s Cam Ward—a dynamic, dual-threat quarterback with a rocket arm, magnetic charisma, and superstar potential.
The message was clear: the Titans are moving forward with Ward, and Levis is no longer the guy. And Levis, in a moment of striking honesty, didn’t sugarcoat his reaction.
“This situation sucks,” Levis said candidly during a recent media session at Titans OTAs. “I’d be lying if I said otherwise. You put everything into the job, into your teammates, the organization, the playbook… you battle through the ups and downs, and then suddenly it feels like the rug gets pulled out from under you. But hey, this is the NFL. It’s a business. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”
Levis’ transparency is a refreshing dose of realism in a league where players are often trained to default to cliché soundbites. But in the midst of his frustration, he made one thing clear: none of his bitterness is aimed at Cam Ward. In fact, Levis praised the rookie and went out of his way to support him during the early days of minicamp.
“Cam’s a baller, man. You can see it already,” Levis said. “The arm talent, the way he processes information, his ability to improvise—it’s all there. He’s going to be special. I’ve told him already, I’m here to help however I can. That’s my job now, whether I like it or not.”
It’s a difficult position for any young quarterback to be in. Levis entered the 2024 season with high hopes and managed to complete 60.4% of his passes for 2,388 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. He showed promise with his deep-ball accuracy and toughness in the pocket, and he helped the Titans to a respectable 7-10 finish despite a depleted roster and inconsistent offensive line play. But in the eyes of the Titans’ front office, it wasn’t enough.
Tennessee’s decision to draft Ward with the No. 1 pick was met with both excitement and confusion among the fanbase. Many believed the Titans had bigger holes to fill—on the offensive line, in the secondary, or with skill-position players—but the opportunity to land a potentially generational quarterback talent proved too tempting to pass up. Ward, who dazzled scouts with his playmaking ability at Washington State and earned comparisons to a young Patrick Mahomes, became the face of a new era before he even took his first snap in a Titans uniform.
For Levis, the writing was on the wall as soon as the pick was announced. He admitted he wasn’t shocked, but he had hoped the organization would stick with him a little longer.
“I’m not going to sit here and act like I didn’t see it coming,” Levis said. “We had conversations during the offseason. I knew they were looking at all options, and when you’ve got the No. 1 pick, anything’s possible. But part of me still thought, ‘Maybe I showed enough. Maybe I earned another year.’ That didn’t happen.”
The emotional toll of the decision is evident in Levis’ demeanor. Once an enthusiastic and fiery presence in the locker room, he’s become more reserved, more introspective. But he’s also using the moment as motivation.
“I’m not going to quit. That’s not who I am,” he said. “This league doesn’t care about your feelings. You’ve got to show up every day and prove yourself. So that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to compete like hell. I’m going to make it as hard as possible for them to keep me on the sideline.”
Head coach Brian Callahan, in his first year at the helm in Tennessee, praised Levis for his professionalism and maturity in handling what’s undoubtedly a tough situation.
“Will’s been great,” Callahan said. “It’s not easy when your team drafts your replacement, especially so soon. But he’s taken it in stride, he’s competing, he’s helping Cam, and he’s not backing down. That says a lot about who he is as a person and as a player.”
The Titans are expected to have an open quarterback competition in training camp, but the reality is clear: the job is Ward’s to lose. The organization is all-in on their new franchise quarterback, and barring injury or a shocking preseason regression, Ward will be under center in Week 1. Levis, meanwhile, will likely be relegated to the backup role—or potentially shopped to another team seeking quarterback depth.
“It’s tough,” Levis admitted. “You want to be somewhere where you’re wanted. But more than anything, you want to play. So if that opportunity comes somewhere else down the line, I’ll be ready. For now, though, I’m here. I’m a Titan. And I’m going to act like one.”
