Titans’ Calvin Ridley Gets Brutally Honest On Why He Left Jaguars

Calvin Ridley signed with the Tennessee Titans in free agency this week, ending his short stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Initially, it looked like Ridley was going to return to the Jaguars, but things became too complicated before he ultimately inked a deal with Jacksonville’s AFC South division rival.

Ridley explained why he departed the Jags for the Titans during his introductory press conference in Tennessee on Friday.

“I was just a little uncomfortable at times,” Ridley said, via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. This team showed me that they want me here for a while. They told me already that they’re going to treat me as a grown man.”

The Jaguars had a rather tenuous salary cap situation, and seeing that Ridley landed a $92 million deal with the Titans, one can understand why they had to work out some kinks before trying to re-sign Ridley.

But in the end, it took too long for Jacksonville to try and get things straightened out, and Ridley got tired of waiting. Now, he will haunt the Jags twice a year for the foreseeable future.

The 29-year-old hauled in 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns this past season.

Ridley, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was originally selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 26th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

The first three years of his tenure with the Falcons were impressive, but in 2021, he stepped away after four games due to personal issues. He was then suspended by the NFL for gambling that ensuing offseason.

Atlanta traded Ridley to the Jaguars in November 2022. He was reinstated by the league last March.

Now, Calvin Ridley will join a Titans receiving corps that already includes DeAndre Hopkins. Those two should make for a dynamic duo in 2024.