Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley has had an incredible NFL journey, marked by both highs and lows, which have helped shape him both on and off the field.Â
Heading into his second season in Nashville, Ridley is the unquestioned leader of the wide receiver group, and the dynamic receiver has earned the respect of his teammates and has been voted a team captain for the first time.Â
It’s hard to believe that this almost never happened. Between playing through a broken foot in 2020 and then sitting out a season serving a gambling suspension, Ridley hit rock bottom in his NFL career and faced a crossroads. But, as Ridley said in an interview with ESPN, what he went through only made him stronger.Â
“I learned a lot about tools during that process,” Ridley said of those years of tumult. “I still use those things today when it gets hard. I don’t let myself go too far down. I’ll flush out the bad thoughts, refresh my mind every time I go home.”
It is the tools he learned during this time that allowed him to return to the NFL and succeed. Since returning from injury and suspension in 2023, Ridley has been a dynamic weapon and recorded 140 receptions for 2033 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Titans. More importantly, it has allowed him to grow into a leader and become a rock for quarterback Cam Ward to lean on as he heads into his rookie season.Â
It is the excitement of playing with Ward that has him even more motivated as he heads into the 2025 season.Â
“I could feel something in me,” Ridley said. “It was like, this kid’s good and I got to be good. I can’t fall behind. I got to be a help. It’s got to be a big help cause it’s time to dominate.”
Ridley has looked like a different player this offseason and appears poised for a big season with Ward at the helm. Since the start of minicamp and throughout training camp, Ward and Ridley have displayed tremendous chemistry, and excitement is building about what the tandem can accomplish.