Tommy Smith retires as Titans CEO

By CM Towle | Mar 20, 2015

Jan 14, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans new head coach Ken Whisenhunt (left) enters the press conference followed by team president and ceo Tommy Smith and executive vice president Don McLachlan at St. Thomas Sports Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Tommy Smith, the president and CEO of the NFL‘s Tennessee Titans is reportedly retiring, wants to focus effort elsewhere.

In some extremely surprising news of the current free agency period, the president and CEO of the Titans is retiring to focus on other endeavors, according to Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt. Smith apparently wants to spend more time focusing on his Adams Resources and Energy endeavor. He said that long-time executive Steve Underwood will take over on an interim basis to find a new president and oversee operations until that time.

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According to Wyatt’s Twitter, Smith said that it was a personal decision. He referenced turning 64 in a few weeks and wanting to spend his energy where it’s needed most. He said the Titans organization was in good shape as a whole, had good people and was looking forward to a bright future.

Recently, Smith has been talking about how the Titans are not for sale, and he reiterated that Friday, saying that his retirement won’t change that. He wanted to make it clear that this decision was for his own personal health, believing himself to be overextended, and nothing else.

Smith took over as the president and CEO of the Titans in October of 2013, so the retirement news is as sudden as it is surprising.

It’s important to note that Smith is not the owner of the Titans. He is the son-in-law of the late Bud Adams. His wife and others of Adams family have ownership stake in the team, but not Smith.

Meanwhile, Underwood will move to Nashville to take over operations in the interim. He had retired from a long-time executive position with the team.

Probably Smith’s biggest decision in his short time with the team would be the hiring of Ken Whisenhunt in January of 2014. The Titans, however, struggled mightily, finishing 2-14. Quarterback Jake Locker then retired and the Titans have not made the playoffs since 2008.

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