Tennessee Titans GM Ran Carthon is well-versed in the art of human connection. From owners, to coaches, to players, to staff members, Carthon consistently finds himself being well-liked and respected.
As Titans president and CEO Burke Nihill told FOX Sports earlier this offseason after Carthon was promoted, "Ran is a master relationship leader. He invests in his team. He invests in the players. He just has this ability to perceive kind of what they need to hear. He's different."
Those interpersonal skills are an underrated tool for a GM. Carthon's ability to connect with players, and tell them what they need to hear makes the Titans a desirable destination for free agents looking for a home. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley is a prime example of this.
Carthon shared an insightful story on "The OTP" Podcast alongside Titans VP of Broadcasting Mike Keith that went behind-the-scenes of the Ridley deal. It also showed how Carthon outshined the Jacksonville Jaguars front office and used his ability to form connection to win Ridley over.
While in contract negotiations with Ridley, the Jacksonville Jaguars had made Ridley an identical offer to the one on the table from the Titans. Ridley's agent informed Carthon and head coach Brian Callahan that it was a 50/50 shot between Tennessee and Jacksonville for where Ridley was going to play in 2024...that is, until Carthon got Ridley on the phone.
As soon as the window opened for teams to directly contact free agents, Carthon facetimed Ridley. "I got the phone. If you guys know about people from Florida, we stick together...I knew people that coached [Calvin] and I knew the area that he's from," said Carthon. "I just approached it from two Florida boys having a conversation on the phone."
"One of the things I told him, was like 'Listen I know where you're from. I'm from the same place. I know how you were raised. I know what things mean to you. But more than anything, we're going to treat you like a man and allow you to be you, whoever that is,'" Carthon shared. "Within two minutes of that phone call, he was like 'I'm coming.'"
The Titans ended up sweetening the pot for Ridley before finalizing a four-year, $92 million contract. Ridley then met with Titans media for an introductory press conference and said that - despite wanting to return to Jacksonville - being "treated like a man" was a deciding factor for him choosing the Titans.
That, my friends, is the Ran Carthon effect. Ridley is not the first and he certainly won't be the last free agent to sign with the Tennessee Titans because of a strong relationship or belief in Carthon. We've heard about the new culture and "family" being built ad nauseam. But now we've seen it applied in grand fashion.
In order to be a good GM in this league and build a perennial contender, you have to be able to scout and draft. That goes without saying. But one year into his tenure, Carthon is doing a superstar job. He has everything it takes to build a respected culture and an enormously talented football team.
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