Jordan Elliott’s Gun Incident, Explained
Jordan Elliott is out of a job with the Tennessee Titans in the middle of the NFL season, and it has nothing to do with his play on the field. The team released the defensive tackle after a practice altercation that could have turned dangerous. No one was hurt, but the incident has prompted an NFL review and left the 28-year-old veteran far from the sidelines. So, what really happened?
Jordan Elliot pulled a gun on a teammate during practice
The incident took place on Thursday, October 15, at the Titans’ team facility in Nashville. According to KPRC, Elliott and right tackle JC Latham got into an argument after a play. Arguments aren’t uncommon in the heat of practice, but this exchange grew tense enough that Elliott was told to leave the field.
Jordan Elliott reportedly took off his pads on the sideline, left the field, and headed to the Titans players’ parking area. That alone wouldn’t have prompted a review. What happened next did. According to reports, Elliott went to his car and retrieved a gun, and his movements in the parking lot were captured on security cameras. It isn’t clear what he planned to do with the weapon, though some reports suggest he intended to confront Latham.
The situation was defused before it escalated further. Teammates, led by defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, talked Elliott down. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the gun never left the area around Elliott’s parking spot.
Jordan Elliott was cut by the Tennessee Titans days later
Five days later, the Titans released Elliott. The team’s brief statement cited only an incident at the facility and said it would have no further comment. Elliott, who signed a two-year deal with Tennessee in March, had played just five games for the team.
Details emerged within hours. On Wednesday, first-year head coach Robert Saleh confirmed that Elliott had pulled a gun in the parking lot, but he also defended the defensive tackle. Saleh, who coached Elliott in San Francisco, described him as a good man and a great father who has never committed a crime, and he called the episode “a call for help more than a criminal act.”
Saleh said the team’s rules about guns on its property left the Titans no choice but to part ways with Elliott, and he asked people not to kick him while he’s down. Reports have said Elliott was dealing with personal issues before the incident, though no further details have been made public.
Latham, the teammate involved in the altercation, has also commented. He called it an unfortunate situation and said there had never been any bad blood between the two.
The NFL is still investigating
Though the Titans have cut Elliott, the NFL is still reviewing the situation. A league spokesperson confirmed to NBC Sports that the Titans promptly notified the league and that the matter is under review. NFL rules prohibit players from bringing firearms into team or league facilities, and the rule is posted throughout every team building. A source with another team told PFT that having a gun at a facility is an egregious conduct violation, which means Elliott could face league discipline if he signs elsewhere. As of Tuesday afternoon, Nashville police said no report had been filed.
Before joining the Titans, Elliott played for the Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers. He’s technically a free agent, but it’s unlikely another team will take a chance on him, at least for now.
