“FELT LIKE HOME”
Former Titans CB Alterraun Verner Signs One-Day Contract to Retire as a Titan By Jim Wyatt
A FOURTH-ROUND draft pick by the Titans in the 2010 NFL Draft, cornerback Alterraun Verner had some pretty modest goals as he first set foot in Tennessee. Verner was confident in his abilities. But he also realized nothing was guaranteed. “My dream was just to play in the NFL,” Verner said. “I guess I wasn’t expecting too much. I knew I was coming to a team with an opening to compete for a starting job. But I was just trying to make the team as a special teams person at the start. To have things unfold for me the way they did, to be able to play and contribute as a rookie, and to eventually end up being a Pro Bowler. ... It’s something I never thought would happen.” Earlier this offseason, Verner signed a one-day contract and officially retired as a Titan. Verner, who also played for the Buccaneers and Dolphins during his eightyear NFL career, said his time in Tennessee was special. “The place that felt the most like home to me was always Tennessee, and that was mainly because of 22
the fans and the players I played with,” Verner said. “Some of the best friends I still talk to today – Jason McCourty, Coty Sensabaugh, Jurrell Casey, Robert Johnson, who I was drafted with. And the fans were always the best. I was able to write on the blog for Music City Miracles and I really felt like I was a big part of things. … I just had a lot of great memories there.” Verner played four seasons (2010-13) for the Titans and became just the third cornerback (Samari Rolle and Cortland Finnegan) in the Titans era (1999-present) to earn Pro Bowl honors following his 2013 season. During his Titans career, Verner totaled 64 games played, 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and two touchdown returns. Overall for his NFL career, he played eight seasons (125 games) and tallied 15 interceptions. Today, Verner lives south of Los Angeles, with his wife and three young boys. He was recently accepted
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8/20/19 2:47 PM
