For the first time since being traded by the Miami Dolphins to the Tennessee Titans in 2019, quarterback Ryan Tannehill will face off against his old team in Week 17 at Nissan Stadium.
Tannehill spent six seasons with the Dolphins, leading them to one playoff appearance. His time with the team can be described as up and down and disappointing, as he dealt with inconsistency, injuries, and a lack of help around him.
Despite how things ended in Miami, Tannehill is “thankful” for his time with the Dolphins, the franchise that drafted him No. 8 overall in the 2012 NFL draft.
“I’m thankful for my time in Miami,” Tannehill said, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “It was a special time in my life. I grew a lot there as a person, as a player, became a father, grew as a husband, and I grew on the field as well.”
Tannehill noted that there aren’t a lot of people left who were there during his days in Miami, but he doesn’t hold any ill-will towards his former team regardless.
“Been a lot of turnover there, so not a big carryover of guys,” Tannehill explained. “But, yeah, thankful for my time there and I have no ill feelings towards them.”
Since coming to the Titans, Tannehill has completely revived his career.
Not only has he elevated an offense that led Tennessee to two straight playoff appearances, one of which led to an AFC Championship Game, but he’s also made a Pro Bowl and won NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
In 2021, Tannehill has struggled, but his issues haven’t been all his fault, as the Titans have dealt with several injuries on offense and have provided shoddy pass protection.
Despite all that, the Titans are still on the cusp of another AFC South crown, which would be their second straight.
While Tannehill isn’t holding a grudge, he does have a chance to put a dent in the playoff hopes of his former team in Week 17, while also having an opportunity to help out his current one.
A loss for the Dolphins would almost assuredly knock them out of the final playoff spot entering Week 18, and a win for the Titans would clinch them the AFC South.
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