Eager for challenge, Titans guard Adam Coon is grappling to master sport he never played in college

By John Glennon

Strolling onto the field for his first football practice in years, Adam Coon found himself in a most unlikely role last month: He was an underdog, a big one at that.

Such is the case when you didn’t play a down of college football but – at the age of 26 – are competing for an interior line spot on the Tennessee Titans’ roster.

All those honors and achievements Coon had piled up on the wrestling mat, where the heavyweight posted a 116-15 record at the University of Michigan, was three times named an All-American and came within one win of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team?

They didn’t mean much when he strapped on a helmet and shoulder pads, looking to follow in the rare footsteps of college wrestlers who found success in the NFL, such as former Patriots lineman Steve Neal and former Steelers lineman Carlton Haselrig.

Coon had already taken one significant step on the football front, showing well enough during an individual workout with the Titans that the team signed him to a contract, one that would allow him to compete for a 2021 roster spot.

But what would it be like actually getting back on the football field with teammates, practicing for . . .

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Author: John GlennonMulti-media journalist with extensive expertise covering the NFL, NHL, professional soccer and more, including the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators for The Tennessean with articles, videos and podcasts. Strengths include the ability to write quick, concise and thorough analysis, as well as the ability to uncover unique human-interest stories. In working as a reporter, John developed skills that extend beyond the sports journalism world. An efficient and effective communicator, John is confident, calm and productive under deadline pressure and knows the power of the written word. John brings to Broadway Sports a work ethic second to none, an intellectual hunger, and an ability to inform and entertain readers, viewers and listeners. Reach out directly to John at: