Titans LB Jack Gibbens Went From Undrafted to Thriving Starter: 'I'm Going to Make the Most of this Opportunity'

Tennessee Titans linebacker Jack Gibbens drove back to Texas after being cut from the team prior to the 2022 season, now he's helping drive the Titans' defense as a starter in 2023.

We've heard it from head coach Mike Vrabel before, but Jack Gibbens echoed it at during his press conference on Monday:

"It doesn't matter how you got here, it's about what you do when you get here"

The Titans second-year linebacker embodies that mantra. Gibbens joined the training camp squad in 2022 after going undrafted out of Minnesota, but did not make the initial 53-man roster. Gibbens recalled that moment and where he's at now after winning the starting job and playing well the first two weeks.

"It was crazy," Gibbens recalled. "Definitely after training camp, got sent home. I drove back to Texas and then a week later they were calling me back to come back out on the practice squad. When I got back out here I just said 'I'm going to make the most of this opportunity,' they gave me a second chance and just took the mindset of I got get better everyday. I got to fight to earn it everyday and that's the same mindset that I have right now."

Gibbens has been earning it in the games. So far this season, Gibbens has 12 tackles and has only allowed one catch for six yards in two games. Gibbens and fellow starter Azeez Al-Shaair are the only linebackers to get snaps on defense to this point.

In Week 1 against the New Orleans Saints, Gibbens was the second-highest graded Titans defender. He was the sixth-highest in Week 2. While Gibbens hasn't jumped off the screen, he simply does his job consistently, and maybe quietly.

Gibbens is clearly happy with how far he's come, but as a second-year player, Gibbens is also focused on continuing to grow. He sounds like a player who appreciates his journey, but isn't satisfied.

"It's been a journey," Gibbens recalled. "Obvious last year getting cut, being on the practice squad then finally getting an opportunity, getting to play then this year in a completely different role. Just trying to keep the same process that I had since I got here, just get better everyday, put my head down and keep working. Starting to take it to the next level. It feels good though."

Related Titans-Chargers stories

• WEEK 2 DEFENSIVE GRADES: The Tennessee Titans defense took on a talented Los Angeles Charger offense on Sunday and while it wasn't always pretty, the defense got the job done and we saw that reflected in the player grades for Week 2. CLICK HERE
• WEEK 2 OFFENSIVE GRADES: The Tennessee Titans got a big overtime win over the Los Angeles Chargers and saw some excellent performances on offense, led by a brilliant game from quarterback Ryan Tannehill. CLICK HERE
• GAME STORY: Despite a slow start, the Tennessee Titans made a lot of big plays on offense and got huge overtime stops on defense to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 on Sunday, snapping an eight-game losing streak dating back to last November. CLICK HERE
• PHOTO GALLERY: Here are two dozen of the best pictures from the Titans' exciting win over the Chargers on Sunday. Lots of great stuff here. CLICK HERE