Titans' Ryan Tannehill Says Getting Benched for Will Levis 'Hits Hard'

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel announced this week that rookie Will Levis was the team's starting quarterback going forward.

The former starter, Ryan Tannehill, understandably wasn't thrilled by that development.

"It hits hard," he told reporters Wednesday. "I've never been in this situation before, never a situation that anyone wants to be in, but it's a situation I'm in."

It's hard to argue with Vrabel's decision, however.

In Levis' two starts since Tannehill suffered a right high ankle sprain during a Week 6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, he's thrown for 500 yards, four touchdowns and an interception, completing 60.3 percent of his passes while leading the team to a 1-1 record.

He's looked the part of a future franchise quarterback, and the Titans have decided there's no time like the present to embrace that future.

Tannehill, meanwhile, was having a brutal season, throwing for 1,128 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions in six starts, completing 62 percent of his passes while taking 19 sacks. The Titans were 2-4 in those games.

So it's Levis' team now, and the 35-year-old Tannehill—despite his disappointment—noted he would "be here to answer any questions he has and try to help him out along the way."

Levis verified as much while speaking with reporters Wednesday.

"Yesterday at practice, [Tannehill was] doing a good job of stepping in and letting me know that the reps, even in the beginning of practice with the [starters were mine]," he said. "I didn't want to step over him, but he came to me first to be like, 'Hey, this is you.' So it was cool to hear that."

Call it a passing of the baton in Tennessee. It's never an easy moment for the veteran player who is conceding his starting role, but Levis has earned the opportunity to be the starter. And it likely means it will be Tannehill's final season in Tennessee, as he'll hit free agency ahead of the 2024 season.