Titans player has emotional response to poor performance vs. Jaguars
If watching your favorite NFL team lose on Sundays makes you wish your team had players that cared just as much as you do, look no further than Tennessee Titans linebacker Dylan Cole. Cole, a former undrafted free agent rookie, is now playing in his sixth NFL season and earning a role in the Titans […]
If watching your favorite NFL team lose on Sundays makes you wish your team had players that cared just as much as you do, look no further than Tennessee Titans linebacker Dylan Cole.
Cole, a former undrafted free agent rookie, is now playing in his sixth NFL season and earning a role in the Titans defense after playing primarily on special teams throughout his career. 2022 has been a wildly successful season for Cole overall, but that doesn't mean it has gone off without a hitch.
After Tennessee's embarrassing loss and what he felt was a poor individual effort vs. Jacksonville on Sunday, Cole shared a moment of raw emotion with Titans writer Jim Wyatt following the game. It was clear just how much it was all bothering him.
"We can only learn and improve from this. I know personally…I sucked," said Cole, fighting back a wave of emotion. "I sucked today. So, just embrace it and learn from it and improve."
Cole said he was particularly bothered by this Sunday's effort because of the work that he felt went into the practice week.
"We just put a lot of work in, and to put stuff out there like that, it doesn't justify the work that we put in. It hurts," Cole said with tears in his eyes. The 28-year-old linebacker then took to Twitter to let the fanbase know he was holding himself accountable.
This response from Cole should be celebrated in today's NFL, not made fun of. You want players to care. You want them to be motivated to never have this feeling again. Not to mention the level of accountability Cole is taking for his own play, which is a rarity among many professional athletes.
Titans teammate Taylor Lewan showed his support of Cole on Twitter, saying he couldn't speak to Cole's performance because he is not a linebacker but "can tell you that this level of accountability is something we should all strive to have."
With both Derrick Henry and Jeffery Simmons saying the Titans needed leaders to step up in times of adversity, Dylan Cole is leading by example.
Image via George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-USA TODAY NETWORK
