A tense moment at a Titans practice has cost a veteran defensive lineman his job, but not his coach’s support.
The Tennessee Titans head coach strongly defended Jordan Elliott on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, a day after the team released the defensive lineman over an incident involving a gun at the team’s facility. The team described the reason for the release only as an incident that occurred at its facility last Thursday.
What happened with Jordan Elliott?
After a dispute with offensive lineman JC Latham at practice last Thursday, Elliott went to his car in the players’ parking lot to get his gun, the coach confirmed.
The gun never left Elliott’s parking spot, according to reports. A Titans defensive lineman helped calm the situation, the coach said. The coach, however, described Elliott as having pulled a gun in the parking lot, and it was not immediately clear how to reconcile the two accounts.
The team notified the NFL, and the league is reviewing the incident. It was not clear whether police were involved. No criminal charges have been reported.
League policy bans personnel from having firearms at any team or league facility, including stadiums, hotels, planes and buses. A league spokesperson confirmed the policy, which applies to players, coaches and staff.
How did the Titans coach defend Jordan Elliott?
The coach called the episode a terrible lapse in judgment that he sees more as a call for help than a criminal act. He described Elliott as a good man, a father and a great husband who had never committed a crime.
He urged people to pause before judging and to ask why a player who shows up on time, works hard and is well liked would make such a decision. People inside the locker room view the situation differently than the public’s quick reaction, he said.
Still, he acknowledged that rules are rules when it comes to guns on team property. He said the response sometimes goes beyond enforcing rules and turns into kicking someone when he is down. He praised both the team and the league for pausing rather than rushing to judgment.
What did JC Latham say?
Latham said he had never had a confrontation with Elliott before and that the two had spent time together socially in other cities. He said he would like to reach out to Elliott if given the chance. Latham, who was drafted by Tennessee in 2024, did not describe what led to the dispute.
Will Jordan Elliott play again?
That is unclear. He is now a free agent, and the coach said he would vouch for him to any team that calls. His message to the rest of the league, he said, is that Elliott is a strong run defender who can help a team in a playoff push. Run defense has been his specialty throughout his career.
Any team interested in Jordan Elliott will likely weigh the outcome of the league’s review. Teams will also want to understand what led to the incident and what support Elliott is receiving.
Who is Jordan Elliott?
Jordan Elliott, 28, is in his seventh NFL season. He signed a deal for two years worth up to $8.5 million with Tennessee this offseason.
He spent the previous two seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he worked with the Titans’ current head coach. He appeared in five games this season, with one start and 11 tackles.
For Jordan Elliott, the coming weeks will determine whether his career continues. The episode has also renewed attention on how teams handle conflict between players and the pressures athletes face away from the public eye.
