This article was written by Gus Wilson and published on Sport & State, a new media company founded by Clay Travis that is built around sports, culture, original voices, and live conversation.
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh came to the defense of former defensive tackle Jordan Elliott on Wednesday, calling the event that led to his release more of a “call for help than a criminal act.”
The Titans released Elliott on Tuesday after an incident at practice on Oct. 15.
The Titans have released DL Jordan Elliott. https://t.co/O7x6IHBTGh
— Steve Layman (@SteveLayman) October 20, 2026
According to multiple reports, Elliott got into an altercation with offensive lineman JC Latham before being removed from practice. Elliott then went to the players’ parking lot to retrieve a gun before fellow defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers intervened and de-escalated the situation.
When asked Wednesday about Elliott for the first time since his release, Saleh praised the NFL and Titans organization for pausing to look deeper into why the incident happened rather than simply reacting to it.
#Titans HC Robert Saleh says Jordan Elliott having a gun was, in a way, a “small sign of a cry for help,” considering he had no prior issues and is a father and a hard worker.
Saleh referenced two suicides in the NFL over the past year and expressed concern about players struggling without getting the help they need.
“These kids go through a lot. I will stand on the table for Jordan’s character. My message to 31 other teams: If you need a hell of a run-stopping DT that can help for a playoff run, give me a call. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him. He’s a good man. Had a terrible lapse in judgment.”
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 21, 2026
“The first question that I think everyone forgets to ask is why would a great man, a great father, a man who shows up on time every day, works his ass off every day, contributes the way he is supposed to contribute, is well liked in the locker room, why did he go off the rails and grab a gun,” Saleh said.
“To me, those are small signs of a cry for help in terms of, there is obviously something greater happening.”
Saleh pointed to recent cases of NFL players dying by suicide while explaining why he believed Elliott’s behavior needed to be viewed as more than simply a disciplinary issue.
He made clear he was not suggesting Elliott was suicidal, but argued that players can be dealing with far more away from the field than those around them realize.
Saleh said the organization took time before releasing Elliott in part because it wanted to make sure he received the help he needed. He did acknowledge that the Titans could not overlook the seriousness of bringing a gun onto team property.
While Saleh believes that lapse in judgment should end Elliott’s time in Tennessee, he doesn’t believe it should end his NFL career.
“I will stand on the table for Jordan’s character,” Saleh said. “My message to 31 other teams: If you need a hell of a run-stopping DT that can help for a playoff run, give me a call. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him. He’s a good man. Had a terrible lapse in judgment.”
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