The Tennessee Titans made quarterback Cam Ward the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft in April, empowering him to become the future of the franchise.
Then they sent him to boot camp.
Not literally, of course, but the Titans have hardly coddled Ward since his arrival, instead choosing often to make Ward’s life as challenging as possible on the football field.
The strategy hasn’t always resulted in a steady string of hyped practice headlines, as Ward on one steamy afternoon session at Ascension St. Thomas Sports Park threw three interceptions to his defensive teammates.
On another occasion, Ward and the rest of the offense were read the riot act at the end of practice by head coach Brian Callahan, who delivered a choice tirade to express his disappointment.
But there is a method to the team’s maneuvers: The theory is that the more difficult the Titans make Ward’s early transition from the college ranks, the better he will be in September, when Ward is scheduled to open the NFL regular season as the Titans’ starter.
Ward will become the Titans’ first rookie quarterback to start the season opener since Marcus Mariota in 2018, assuming of course, he handles all the lumps, bumps and surprises that Tennessee’s own defense throws at him beforehand.
“I appreciate it,” Ward said of the challenge. “That’s good for us as an offense. If we can overcome this little stuff at practice, we’ll be able to overcome a lot of adversity in the game … Those guys on the defensive side of the ball get me better every day.”
One of Ward’s first welcome-to-the-NFL moments came in June during a Titans offseason practice, when veteran defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons—on the field against Ward for the first time — delivered some vocal barbs at the rookie after a couple of missed pass attempts.
Simmons, a team captain for the past four seasons, is well known for his ability to deliver high-volume trash talk.
But the 23-year-old Ward didn’t back down, responding not only with his mouth, but by delivering an impressive completion on the very next play.
“That was the most impressive thing,” Simmons said after the practice. “Not talking smack to me, but I think being able to get back in the huddle, get the play to the guys and still operate the offense … That’s exciting. He’s got a lot of confidence in him.”
Maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that Ward appears to be built of sturdy stuff, given his background.
Playing at a small, under-the-radar high school, the West Columbia, Texas, native didn’t receive a single college scholarship offer from any of the big-time programs.
Instead, Ward began his college career at the University of Incarnate Word, playing two years at the small school in San Antonio, Texas, before transferring—first to Washington State and later to Miami, where he led the nation with 39 touchdown passes in 2024, and finished second in passing yards with 4,313.
“Just how I came up and got to this point, what I had to go through at a young age, [helps me stay even keeled],” Ward said. “I think it made me believe even more that bad things come with good things, and good things also come with bad things … So you just have to have a next play mentality, which I’ve had my whole life.”
That philosophy also appeared to pay dividends when the Titans opened training camp in late July, when Callahan and his coaching staff made the calculated decision to — by their own admission — throw the kitchen sink at Ward during practices.
Again, the thinking was to stress Ward early on, in the hopes that his first NFL regular season wouldn’t be overwhelming.
“I think growth comes from struggle, and I think struggle is a good thing for all young players,” Callahan explained. “We all know what’s coming [in the regular season], and we know what it’s going to look like and how hard these NFL seasons are, and I think it’s good to callous yourself for that.”
Predictably, Ward had ups and downs through the first few weeks of training camp.
During one difficult stretch, he threw six interceptions over the course of four practices, leading to plenty of concerned social media comments from Titans supporters.
But Ward persevered, keeping his composure and eventually recording one of his best practices just a day before the Titans traveled to Tampa Bay for their first preseason game.
In that session, Ward methodically drove the Titans down the field, capping the offensive series by delivering a nine-yard touchdown pass to veteran Tyler Lockett in the closing seconds.
If Ward can replicate that kind of success on any kind of regular basis during the regular season, the Titans will know their strategy — of breaking him down before building him back up — was a success.
“His demeanor gives me a ton of confidence that he can handle a rough spot or two,” Callahan said. “It’s the reality that, being a young [quarterback], there’s going to be ups and downs. It happens.
“But you see his demeanor. His heart rate never changes. He doesn’t flinch when it comes to a mistake or two, and he just goes right back and does it again. I think that’s the makeup you have to have as an NFL quarterback.”