The best ability is availability. In today's NFL, longevity is rare and consistent reliability is even tougher to find and keep.
While that commonly used phrase rings true, there are two Titans that stick out from the rest of the league in one important category. Titans kicker Nick Folk and long snapper Morgan Cox each currently rank in the NFL's top 10 in most games played among active players.
Folk (228) and Cox (216), who rank eighth and ninth respectively in games played, have been models of consistency throughout the years and have aged like fine wine. Cox has been named to five Pro Bowls in his 14-year career with his last appearance coming in 2022. Folk has kicked in the NFL for 16 seasons, but is coming off of a career-best 29-for-30 (96.7%) on field goal attempts in 2023.
The New York Jets ( Thomas Morstead & Aaron Rodgers) are the only other team in the NFL with two players inside the top 10.
Folk and Cox helped build the Titans kicking game into one of the best last season. And if it wasn't for failed special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman the Titans would enter 2024 with one of the best special teams units in the NFL.
Unfortunately Aukerman couldn't protect Titans punter and rising star Ryan Stonehouse from back-to-back blocked punts which resulted in a season-ending knee injury. Aukerman was fired for his devastating impact on Stonehouse's health. However, Stonehouse did enough before going down to match his 53.1 yards per punt average from his rookie season which broke an 82-year-old NFL record at the time.
With that being said, whenever Stonehouse returns to the lineup the Titans will once again have one of the most talented special teams rooms in the league. Folk and Cox bring a combined 444 games of NFL experience to a locker room looking to build a a winning culture as the Titans look ahead to the first year of the Brian Callahan era.
