Report: Tennessee Titans signing QB Hendon Hooker

Hendon Hooker is heading back to familiar territory. The Tennessee Titans are signing the former University of Tennessee standout quarterback, per Jordan Schultz, marking a homecoming for one of the most electric players in recent Volunteers history. 

The move adds another layer to an already crowded quarterback room in Nashville, and could signal more roster movement on the horizon. Hooker, 28, joins a group that already includes Cam Ward, Mitchell Trubisky and Will Levis. 

With four quarterbacks now in the mix, speculation surrounding Levis’ future is unlikely to quiet down anytime soon. Still, Hooker’s addition appears to be more about depth and development than an immediate competition for the starting job. At least for now.

Hooker’s NFL journey has been anything but straightforward since entering the league in 2023. Selected by the Detroit Lions in the third round (No. 68 overall), Hooker spent his rookie season rehabbing a torn ACL suffered during his final year at Tennessee. He made his NFL debut in 2024, appearing in three games and completing 6-of-9 passes for 62 yards in limited action.

Despite showing flashes, Hooker was waived by Detroit during final roster cuts ahead of the 2025 season. From there, he bounced between practice squads.

Hooker signed with the Carolina Panthers in August before being released in early November. He later landed with the New York Jets to close out the 2025 season, reuniting with head coach Aaron Glenn, who previously served as Detroit’s defensive coordinator during Hooker’s time with the Lions. Now, he finds himself back in Tennessee, the place where his football career truly took off.

After transferring from Virginia Tech, Hooker became a star in Knoxville, culminating in a sensational 2022 campaign. He completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 3,135 yards, 27 touchdowns and just two interceptions, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and emerging as a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender before his season-ending injury.

That version of Hooker, a quarterback who was efficient, explosive, and poised, is what the Titans are betting on rediscovering. The fit makes sense, at least culturally, 

Of course, Hooker is already a known commodity in the state, beloved by the fan base and familiar with the spotlight that comes with playing in Tennessee. But on the field, his path to meaningful snaps remains uncertain.

With a young quarterback like Ward, a veteran in Trubisky and a still-developing Levis ahead of him, Hooker may initially slot in as a depth option or practice squad candidate. Still, the opportunity is there.

For Hooker, a return to Tennessee offers more than just another stop. It’s a chance to reset and potentially revive an NFL career that once carried so much promise.