Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Robert Saleh defended Jordan Elliott's character despite him bringing a gun to practice
Tennessee Titans head coach Robert Saleh wants everyone to know that defensive tackle Jordan Elliott isn’t a bad guy, but rather had a temporary lapse of judgment. Who among us hasn’t briefly considered murdering our colleague with a gun while at work due to a dispute?
According to reports, Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jordan Elliott went to his car to retrieve a gun after getting into a dispute with offensive tackle JC Latham at practice on October 15.
Reports indicate that Elliott went to his parked car in the players’ parking lot to get his gun, which never left Elliott’s parking spot, after an altercation with Latham, and had to be talked down by defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers.
Titans coach Robert Saleh said that Jordan Elliott retrieving a gun from his car after a practice dispute was a “small sign of a cry for help”
The Titans released Elliott on Tuesday, and an NFL spokesperson said that the situation is “under review.”
#Titans HC Robert Saleh says Jordan Elliott having a gun was, in a way, a “small sign of a cry for help,” considering he had no prior issues and is a father and a hard worker.
Saleh referenced two suicides in the NFL over the past year and expressed concern about players struggling without getting the help they need.
“These kids go through a lot. I will stand on the table for Jordan’s character. My message to 31 other teams: If you need a hell of a run-stopping DT that can help for a playoff run, give me a call. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him. He’s a good man. Had a terrible lapse in judgment.”
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 21, 2026
“Here’s what I’ll say, guys. I think the NFL organization did an outstanding job pausing, which I think everyone needs to do in this situation. With regard to the news that Jordan had a gun, and the reason why I think the NFL and the organization did an outstanding job is that this is a man who is a father, a great husband,” Titans head coach Saled told the media about the incident.
“He’s never committed a crime in his entire life, and he pulled a gun in the parking lot. And the first question that I think everyone forgets to ask is: Why would a great man, a great father, a man who shows up on time every day, works his ass off every day, contributes the way he’s supposed to contribute, is well liked in the locker room? Why did he go off the rails and grab a gun?” he continued.
“And to me, those are small signs of a cry for help; if you, in terms of, obviously there’s something greater happening, and I thought the team in the NFL did an outstanding job with regard to pausing and asking those questions and checking every single box with regard to getting him the help that he needs.”
Despite the fact that the Titans cut Elliott, Saleh said he would “stand on the table for Jordan’s character” if other teams were to call an ask about him.
“These kids go through a lot. I will stand on the table for Jordan’s character. My message to 31 other teams: If you need a hell of a run-stopping DT that can help for a playoff run, give me a call. I’ll tell you everything you need to know about him. He’s a good man [who] had a terrible lapse in judgment.”
The former New York Jets head coach also highlighted the suicides of former NFL players Jordan Devey and Alphonso Smith Jr. this past year.
“In the last year, the NFL has lost two outstanding young men to taking their own lives recently because they never had help,” Saleh said.
The former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator was praised for how he answered the questions and supported his former player.
“Couldn’t have had a better media comment tbh. Respect for Saleh,” reads the most popular reply to the video.
“This is actually a quite socially aware response,” a second top response reads.
very impressed with Saleh’s response here
— Felix (@PlayoffTanney) October 21, 2026
While Saleh doesn’t explicitly state it, the implication — especially considering the invocation of former NFL players who have committed suicide — is that Elliott could be suffering from CTE, the degenerative brain disease that has been found in numerous NFL players after these deaths.
The 28-year-old Elliott — drafted by the Cleveland Browns out of the University of Missouri in the 3rd round of the 2020 NFL Draft — signed a two-year contract with the Titans in the offseason.
Although Saleh handled the questions about Elliott with class — perhaps the former Browns and 49ers defensive lineman is suffering from some mental episode — maybe we should be asking how someone in that fragile state could have such easy access to a deadly weapon.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.