Titans show faith in rookie Cam Ward with bold decision

The Tennessee Titans have wasted no time putting their faith in Cam Ward, naming the rookie quarterback a team captain before he has even played his first NFL game.

Selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Ward enters the season not just as the franchise’s future but already as one of its leaders.

He starred during a college career at University of Miami, impressing coaches and teammates enough during training camp and the preseason to earn the rare honor. Tennessee last gave a rookie quarterback the captaincy in 2015, when Marcus Mariota was chosen to lead immediately after his arrival.

Ward will be joined on offense by veteran running back Tony Pollard and wide receiver Calvin Ridley. On defense, the primary voice remains Jeffery Simmons, the All-Pro defensive tackle who will wear a gold “C” patch to mark more than five years of service as captain. Safety Amani Hooker and linebacker Cody Barton round out the defensive captains, while veteran long snapper Morgan Cox will lead special teams.

Although Ward saw limited action in preseason games, he showed poise and command, completing 10 of 19 passes for 145 yards. The Titans had already signaled confidence in him from the moment he was drafted. With Brandon Allen serving as his backup and Trevor Siemian on the practice squad, the franchise has made it clear Ward is their starter moving forward.

Ward’s NFL debut won’t come easy. His first start will be on the road against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High, one of the league’s toughest environments for visiting quarterbacks. The Broncos boasted the third-best scoring defense and seventh-best defense in yards allowed last season, setting up a challenging introduction to life in the NFL for Tennessee’s new captain.

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