Titans' Caleb Farley addresses father's death after explosion

Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley opened up about the recent explosion that destroyed a North Carolina home and tragically killed his father. 

"I was really emotional earlier," Farley said on Tuesday afternoon, per Hank Lee of Charlotte television station WCNC. "I've kind of leveled off a little bit. It's just been a hectic roller coaster of a ride. Not only today, just for me the last five years, so I've been leaning on my faith and staying with the principles my mother and my father raised me with and that's what's been keeping me calm."

As noted by the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), it was previously learned that 61-year-old Robert Farley was killed Monday night in an explosion likely caused by an accumulation of gas. The blast ruled accidental by authorities also left a 25-year-old family friend injured with a non-life-threatening concussion. 

Caleb Farley's mother died from breast cancer in 2018.

"I got a call around midnight last night in Nashville from a neighbor explaining the situation," Caleb said about when he learned of the news. "And it didn't sound good from the start."

The 2021 first-round draft pick was in Nashville when he received the call regarding the horrific news. He is currently on the physically unable to perform list related to a back injury he dealt with last season. 

"Growing up as a little boy, I always knew my father was well respected in this community," Caleb Farley added, according to WBTV out of Charlotte. "So, I appreciate the support, everybody coming out to just check on my family."

Robert Farley's funeral is scheduled for Saturday afternoon local time at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Newton, North Carolina. It's understandably unclear when Caleb Farley will return to the Titans and the playing field, as head coach Mike Vrabel vowed on Tuesday that the club will "do everything we can to support Caleb and his family" as they mourn. 

"That’s the most important thing is to focus on him — everything else is pretty trivial," Vrabel said about the 24-year-old defensive player at that time.