Tennessee Titans’ new head coach, Robert Saleh, is adding more talent to his roster. The Titans and former New York Jets quarterback Hendon Hooker agreed to a deal, as well as running back Michael Carter, another ex-Jet.
Hooker Signs With Tennessee Titans
Hooker is now the fourth quarterback on Tennessee’s roster, joining Cam Ward, Mitchell Trubisky, and Will Levis. The Titans didn’t make the playoffs in 2025, going just 3-14 and finishing last in the AFC South.
Offensively, the Titans had a rough 2025, ranking 30th with just a 57% impact score, per PFSN’s Offenses impact metrics. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the news on Wednesday on X (formerly Twitter), “Free agent quarterback Hendon Hooker is signing with the Titans, per source.”
The former Detroit Lions draft pick in 2023 has been a journeyman with stints in the Lions, Carolina Panthers, and the Jets. In 2024, he attempted nine total passes in three games. It is a full-circle moment for the young quarterback, who played for the Tennessee Vols in college.
Free agent quarterback Hendon Hooker is signing with the Titans, per source.
Former draft pick of the Detroit Lions was last with Carolina. pic.twitter.com/XzqHIyjKo1
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 1, 2026
During his time with the Vols, Hooker was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-SEC passer in 2022. That season, he threw for 3,135 yards with 27 touchdowns and two interceptions. He was outstanding with a 9-2 record under center before he suffered a season-ending injury.
The Vols finished that year 11-2 and went on to win the Orange Bowl. The Titans are led by the former No. 1 pick Ward. In addition, Tennessee signed a pair of receivers – K.J. Osborn and Lance McCutcheon. Hooker joined the Panthers as a member of the practice squad after he was waived by the Lions last summer.
In November, he was released by the Panthers and later finished the season with the Jets. In other offseason moves, the Titans had recently cut starting center Lloyd Cushenberry III, and backup Corey Levin had signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
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To make up for those players, Tennessee signed interior lineman Austin Schlottmann and Cordell Volson as reinforcements. In a pretty stacked quarterback room, it remains to be seen what role the 6-foot-3, 221-pound signal-caller will have with the Titans.
Considering he already played college football at Tennessee, Hooker will likely have an easier time adjusting to the state’s environment on his new team.
