Football

Titans CB Caleb Farley loses father in house explosion: 'He raised me to be a stand-up guy'

By Joshua Doering Aug 23, 2023
Caleb Farley poses with his father, Robert, after getting drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2021. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Titans)

Tragedy struck Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley when his North Carolina home exploded late Monday night. Farley’s father, 61-year-old Robert Farley, was found dead in the debris Tuesday morning, according to authorities. A family friend who was also in the house was transported to the hospital with a concussion.

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The Titans gathered at practice Tuesday to pray for Farley.

Head coach Mike Vrabel and numerous teammates offered support while speaking to the media as well.

“We were the last ones in the locker room last night just hanging around,” star running back and fellow believer Derrick Henry said. “I’m praying for his family. It’s a tragic situation. I couldn’t describe the way he probably feels right now.”

Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management Director Kent Greene told the media gas seemed to accumulate over time in the house and then found its way to an ignition source, which caused the explosion. Authorities have ruled it accidental.

The grief and pain were obvious as Farley discussed his father’s legacy Tuesday.

“My father was a stand-up guy,” Farley told Queen City News. “He raised me to be a stand-up guy.”

Unfortunately, Farley has battled adversity throughout his life. His mother, Robin, was diagnosed with cancer when he was in middle school. The cancer returned as Farley was recovering from a torn ACL in 2017, and she passed away in January 2018.

Farley — who describes himself as a “Follower of Jesus” on Instagram — trusted in God through his mother’s battle with cancer and believes her passing brought him closer to the Lord.

“I can say that was the start of me maturing in my faith,” he told ESPN in 2021. “I’ve always been built up in the Scriptures and known what you should and shouldn’t do. It wasn’t as intimate or as pure of a relationship as it could have been.

“When I saw my mother go through that and believe that she could be healed and then I saw it come back and kill her, it hurt my faith in the beginning. But I believe you have to serve the Lord when it’s good and bad. I made the decision that I was going to trust God. I would be lost without Him.”

Taken by the Titans with the 22nd pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, the former Virginia Tech standout is entering his third season with Tennessee. Injuries have limited Farley to 12 appearances in his NFL career, nine of which came last year.

He was placed on injured reserve in November and is currently on Tennessee’s physically unable to perform list.

The Titans face the New England Patriots in their final preseason game Friday and visit the New Orleans Saints in their regular-season opener Sept. 10. Please join Sports Spectrum in praying for Farley and his family.

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