From undrafted underdog to special teams powerhouse, this versatile back is shattering production records and proving his worth through relentless physicality and elite multi-phase reliability.
Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut has been with the franchise since 2022 after going undrafted out of Sacred Heart.
As the preseason goes on, we're starting to see why the team has kept him around this long.
Chestnut is entering his fifth season as a Titan in 2026. He and fellow undrafted free agent Tre Avery both made the team in 2022 after surviving roster cuts.
Chestnut was waived after three games and signed to the practice squad. He had a limited role in his first season and made the roster again in 2023.
Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury and played in six games that year. He came back, kept working, and was the No. 3 running back in the rotation in 2024. He played his first 17-game season and did the same again last year.
Chestnut has been the leader rusher in both preseason games so far. On Sunday night against the Seattle Seahawks, he had 48 rushing yards on eight carries, averaging six yards per touch.
He is fighting to keep his spot as the Titans' third running back. Nick Singleton, Michael Carter, D'Ernest Johnson and Kalel Mullings are all fighting for a spot as well.
On Tuesday, we heard from Titans assistant coaches John Fassel, Gus Bradley and Brian Daboll.
Fassel was especially complimentary of Chestnut. Since joining the Titans, Chestnut has also made an impact on special teams.
He was the kick returner for 2023-24 before the emergence of Chimere Dike. Last season was the first time Fassel got to work with Chestnut on special teams.
When asked what has made Chestnut stand out throughout his Titans tenure, Fassel couldn't think of anything he wasn't good at.
"Short of everything?" Chestnut said. "Everything. I mean, everything. Tackling, blocking, returning, protecting, leadership. Like, everything. You know, he's one of the best I've ever had. Last year, we kept a point chat for production and participation for a regular season. My 18 years as a coordinator doing the same exact point chart. He had scored the highest number of points in any regular season for special teams in my 18 years. He does everything. He's incredible."
Chestnut has already won over Fassel in the short time they've worked together, and he's been putting on consistent performances in the preseason to boot.
Even if Chesnut doesn't get consistent minutes in the backfield, he will always have a spot on special teams.
Chestnut has stuck around with the Titans for so long, and now that Fassel has revealed how impactful he is on special teams, it makes sense why.
Players like Chestnut do things that don't always show up on the stat sheet. Players like him often go underappreciated for what they do on Sundays.
Chestnut in the kind of player that every NFL wants, even if his work often goes unnoticed.
Chestnut started the preseason as one of the reserve running backs. Don't be surprised if he gets ample minutes on offense and special teams this year.
