WATCH: Ryan Tannehill clarifies comments on Titans addition of Malik Willis
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill is disappointed with the way his comments about rookie Malik Willis were taken out of context. Tannehill said a few weeks ago that he didn’t think it was his job to be a mentor to Willis, causing an uproar across the league.
Tannehill once again took the podium Tuesday to clarify his stance and express frustration at how his words were misconstrued.
“I meant no disrespect to Malik or anything close to that,” he said. “We’ve been in constant communication since he was drafted and through the madness that ensued after my last press conference. He’s a good person and a talented player coming off of a great college career, so we’re happy to have him in the room. Really I’m just kind of disappointed in how things got spun and twisted a little bit. I pride myself on being a great teammate. I have my whole career going back to the time I was a kid playing youth sports. It’s something that’s been important to me from the beginning and will always be important to me.”
Ryan Tannehill went on to say that he has enjoyed getting to know Malik Willis, whom Tennessee selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He also made clear that when he said he was “competing against” Willis, he meant no harm either. He relishes competition and invites it in every area of his life, even outside of football.
“Another thing that I think kind of got blown out of proportion is when I said the word ‘compete,'” Tannehill said. “I compete every time I step foot on that football field. I compete against myself and the player I was before, the lessons I learned and little things I pick up off the tape. I compete against the defense and if we’re doing QB drills then I’m competing against whoever else is out there. That’s just how I’m wired. I love to compete. I love to win. I freaking hate losing, no matter what it is. Whether it’s a small drill on the football field or playing a game at the house, I love to win and I’m gonna compete every time I have the chance to. So that was kind of frustrating for me as well. I think that we’re gonna continue to push each other, learn from each other in the QB room, encourage each other as this thing goes forward. We’re all here for one goal. My primary focus is to win football games as is everyone in this building.”
Tannehill, 33, has spent the past three seasons as the Titans starting quarterback. He has led them to a 30-13 record during that time and playoff appearances in every year. There is some questions abut how much he has left in the tank, as he is set to enter his 10th NFL season in 2022.
Despite this, his starting job certainly isn’t in any jeopardy. You can expect to see him under center once against in Nashville this coming season.