The Titans finalize their kicking operation for 2026 by signing Pro Bowl punter Tommy Townsend and bringing back kicker Joey Slye on a one-year deal.
Hours before the NFL’s new league year begins, the Tennessee Titans have locked in their specialists for the 2026 season.
Late Tuesday night, the Titans agreed to a two-year deal with punter Tommy Townsend, who will replace 36-year-old veteran Johnny Hekker. Then on Wednesday morning, the team followed it up by bringing kicker Joey Slye back on a one-year contract.
From where I sit, both decisions were the right call by the Titans’ front office. Just yesterday, I advocated for Tennessee to bring back Slye while replacing Hekker with a younger and more dynamic option.
Slye finished the 2025 season going 28-for-35 on field goals. His overall percentage was slightly impacted by a few late-game Hail Mary attempts from 62-plus yards, but he still connected on nine kicks from 50 yards or longer.
When you survey the other options that were available in free agency, Slye stands out as one of the most well-rounded kickers on the market. He provides the reliability teams need on routine attempts while also possessing the leg strength required to connect from beyond 50 yards. In today’s NFL, both traits are essential.
As for the punting situation, Townsend represents a clear upgrade.
The veteran spent four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2020 to 2023 before joining the Houston Texans for the past two seasons. During that time, he built an impressive résumé that includes a Pro Bowl appearance, two Super Bowl rings, and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2022.
With special teams coordinator Bones Fassell retained on Robert Saleh’s staff, one of the league’s most explosive return threats in Chimere Dike, and a specialist trio now set with long snapper Morgan Cox, kicker Joey Slye, and punter Tommy Townsend, the Titans are taking a smart approach by prioritizing special teams early in free agency.
If you ignore special teams in the spring, you often end up paying for it in the fall. Tennessee appears determined not to make that mistake, and this is an area where the Titans could legitimately excel next season.
General manager Mike Borgonzi has also leaned into his Kansas City roots by signing cornerback Joshua Williams to a two-year deal. While Williams hasn’t played many defensive snaps recently, he is a strong special teams contributor with excellent length and served as the Chiefs’ top gunner last season.
Very few teams are fortunate enough to have kickers, punters, or special teams units that function as true weapons. For most franchises, the goal is simply to avoid costly mistakes.
The Titans may not have a special teams unit that swings games on its own, but they have done enough in free agency to create stability. And as things stand today, there’s good reason to feel confident about where Tennessee’s kicking and punting situation is headed.