It’s been an up-and-down career for Ryan Tannehill. But after spending six years with the Miami Dolphins, the 31-year-old has had a breakout season since earning the starting spot for the Tennessee Titans in Week 6.
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He’s 7-3 as a starter after replacing Marcus Mariota, including a road playoff win over the New England Patriots in the wild-card round last weekend. In just 10 games as a starter this season, he’s nearly matched his season best for touchdowns (27) with 22 this season, has a career-low in interceptions (six), a career-high completion percentage (70.3), and has the Titans in the divisional round of the playoffs for just the second time since 2008.
Throughout his career, Tannehill has relied on his faith in God to guide him.
“I pray before every game,” Tannehill told Sports Spectrum in 2018. “I spend time with God before I get to the stadium and then when I lace up my cleats, I thank God for the opportunity to go out there and attempt to glorify Him.”
Tannehill was taken eighth overall by the Dolphins in the 2012 NFL Draft, and he started consistently during his time in Miami. In 2015, he set the all-time NFL record for consecutive completed passes with 25, completing his first 18 passes in a game against the Houston Texans and the final seven of his previous game.
A torn ACL during training camp sidelined him for the 2017 season, but he regained the starting spot in 2018. He suffered yet another injury that season — this time to his shoulder — and Brock Osweiler was named the starter in Miami.
Tannehill regained the starting spot in Week 12, but it was quickly apparent that the Dolphins were ready to move on. In March 2019, he found a new team in Tennessee when he was traded to the Titans. Now, he’s got the fans in Nashville excited about being one game away from the AFC championship game, as they face the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens Saturday night (8:15 p.m. ET on CBS).
As much as Tannehill wants to beat Baltimore, and like any other pro football player make it to a Super Bowl, he remains focused on what he feels is more important — his faith.
“In my life, the times I’ve been really consistent, spending quality time on a daily basis with God in prayer, are the times I flourish the most,” Tannehill said. “The times I’m feeling the tightest with God. He’s such a giving, loving Father that we don’t deserve and when you get a taste of it, you just want more.”
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