Titans TE Chig Okonkwo sends heartfelt message potentially foreshadowing his future as he hits free agency
The Titans top pending free agent sends a potential farewell message.
The 2025/26 season is officially over for the Tennessee Titans, and the pending free agents on their roster are done playing in two-tone blue unless they negotiate a new contract. Off the heels of the franchise’s second consecutive 3-14 season, it won’t shock anybody to learn that most of these expiring contracts aren’t exactly the most desirable players. I wrote a full rundown on the pending free agents to keep and those to wish a fond farewell to right here.
The player on this list that will be talked about the most is starting tight end Chig Okonkwo. The 2022 4th round draft pick is at the end of his rookie contract, and following the season finale in Jacksonville, he sent a message to fans on X.
Chig Okonkwo sends a potential goodbye message
About an hour after the Jaguars finished drubbing the Cam Ward-less Titans 41-7, Okonkwo posted this message on social media:
“Thank you Tennessee for allowing me to live out my childhood dreams! Playing in the NFL representing the Titans for the past 4 years has been an unbelievable privilege that I will never take for granted! Thank you Lord for keeping me safe and allowing me to play every game these past 4 years. Psalms 91. luv ya Nashville.”
That chime you just heard is the opening bell of cryptic athlete posting season. Does this read like a goodbye post? Yeah, kind of. Does it also read as a “whatever happens from here, appreciate y’all” post? Also yes. Does it also read like a “time to start playing games to drive up my price and get paid this spring” post? Sure!
Make of it what you will. I’m assuming it’s the second option.
Okonkwo’s 54 receptions for 558 yards led Titans skill players by nearly 100 yards. In most statistical categories, it was a career-season. As I wrote about in the free agent article linked here, the bottom line on Chig is that he’s probably always going to be a player you want a little more from. But the Titans need a player in his role, and as much as you’d like to find somebody who is more balanced as a true blocker, they don’t grow on trees. I think it will be easier to pay Chig to stay than to replace him, so I endorse offering him a new contract. The Titans have more than enough money to do so, and might as well spend it on a player who told us earlier this season that he’s trying to be a Titan for life.
When he posts a message like this, though, that’s brought into question.
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