iStockphoto / David Gonzales-Imagn Images
Titans QB Cam Ward next to revoked reporter's microphone
There are generally smarter ways to challenge an NFL franchise than publicly predicting it is not stupid enough to revoke your media credential. Jared Stillman tried that strategy Monday, and the Tennessee Titans apparently needed about 24 hours to provide an answer.
Tennessee revoked Stillman’s access to practices and press conferences Tuesday, days after his awkward exchange with quarterback Cam Ward went viral. Stillman said on his own show that the organization characterized him as a YouTuber rather than a daily beat reporter and told him the decision reflected the “totality” of his coverage rather than one specific incident.
Jared Stillman Basically Dared The Titans To Do It
The timing is what makes this entire thing incredible.
Last Thursday, Stillman asked Ward how he would assess his preseason performance. Ward decided to flip the question back on him.
Stillman’s answer? “Not well.”
Ward thanked him for the opinion before explaining that he believed Tennessee’s offense had made a significant jump from its first preseason game to its second and predicting Week 1 would be a different story.
Stillman posted the original exchange, and the interaction quickly spread because reporters usually do not get asked to grade the quarterback in the middle of the quarterback’s own press conference.
I asked Cam Ward how he would assess his preseason, his answer was to ask me how I would assess it..to which I said “not well.”
He then gave his assessment in which he said they made a huge jump from Week 1 to Week 2. Says it will “be a different story” Week 1 vs the Jets. pic.twitter.com/fqPwgnNrfr
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) August 27, 2026
The situation could have ended there as a mildly uncomfortable August media moment.
Instead, Stillman discussed the possibility of losing his credential on Monday and basically called the Titans’ bluff.
As Barrett Media noted, Stillman argued that revoking his access would create a national story and make Tennessee look overly sensitive. He ultimately dismissed the possibility by saying he did not think the franchise was “that stupid.”
The Titans revoked it the next day.
The Titans Have Not Publicly Explained The Specific Reason
There is an important distinction here.
Stillman believes the viral Ward exchange played a role, but the Titans have not publicly said, “We revoked his credential because of Cam Ward.” According to Stillman, the team instead pointed broadly toward his coverage and the fact that his current independent YouTube operation does not require the same access as someone covering the franchise daily.
Stillman previously spent a decade at Nashville’s 102.5 The Game before moving to his independent Stillman and Company show. He has continued receiving Titans credentials, although longtime Tennessee reporter Paul Kuharsky noted that Stillman generally attends selected practices and press conferences rather than covering the team daily.
Teams also control their own credentialing. Media access is not guaranteed simply because someone had it previously. That does not make the optics any less hilarious.