During a team meeting after practice in Nashville, Titans coach Mike Vrabel broke the devastating news regarding Caleb Farley’s passing. The players, clearly upset, knelt down, appearing to be in prayer.
Caleb Farley, a cornerback for the Tennessee Titans, lost his father tragically overnight after an explosion destroyed the NFL player’s North Carolina home and injured another person. On Tuesday, news of this upsetting incident was released.
According to Kent Greene, the director of Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management, Robert M. Farley, 61, was found dead
After midnight on Tuesday, emergency personnel arrived at the scene and discovered Christian Rogers, 25 years old, coming out of the destroyed building. Greene identified Rogers as a family friend, and he was sent to Charlotte’s Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center after suffering a concussion. He is awake and alert, but he is still being watched and hasn’t been let go yet.
Investigations are currently being conducted to determine what caused the explosion, and there are signs that gas may have built up gradually before finding an igniting source. The explosion, which came from a bedroom and was ruled to be accidental by authorities, mercifully did not cause damage to any surrounding residences.
Situated on a substantial piece of land near Lake Norman, approximately 28 miles north of Charlotte, the house has a tax value of nearly $2 million according to county property records.
On Tuesday, the front yard bore signs of the blast – insulation hung from trees, a king-size mattress, and a broken coffee mug with “Virginia Tech dad” inscribed on it lay on the lawn. Debris and window frames were strewn around 50 yards away from the explosion’s epicenter.
Greene expressed his initial disbelief that anyone could have survived within the house. He was amazed to learn that someone had managed to exit the wreckage. The once 6,300-square-foot home had been reduced to rubble.
Property records name Caleb Farley, a native of nearby Maiden, as the homeowner. Although he wasn’t present during the explosion, he arrived at the scene on Tuesday to face the tragedy.
Coach Mike Vrabel, deeply affected by the news, informed the team about Caleb Farley’s loss during a practice session in Nashville. The players, showing their solidarity and support, knelt down, seemingly in prayer. Vrabel stressed the team’s commitment to stand by Caleb and offer their utmost support during this trying time.
Vrabel commented, “That’s the most important thing, to focus on him and… everything else is pretty trivial.”
Caleb Farley, chosen as the No. 22 overall pick in the 2021 draft, had been placed on injured reserve last November due to a back issue. He has participated in 12 games over his first two seasons and is presently listed as physically unable to perform as the Titans conclude their training camp this week.
During his college days, this 6-foot-2, 197-pound cornerback made headlines by choosing to opt out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having already lost his mother to cancer in 2018, he was unwilling to jeopardize another loved one’s safety while playing football at Virginia Tech.
Kevin Byard, a Titans safety who himself lost his mother in June 2022, shared his encouragement for Caleb Farley to lean heavily on his faith during these difficult times. Byard empathized with Caleb’s journey and expressed his team’s commitment to being there for him as a supportive brother.
Two doors down from the explosion location, Laura Wild recalled hearing a big boom around midnight. She didn’t go outside right away, but when she woke up the next morning, she saw the terrible aftermath.
According to Kent Greene, as several agencies look into the explosion’s source, it’s not yet obvious who might be held liable. The gas meter, which monitors the flow of fuel gases into surrounding homes, has been secured and doesn’t currently present a threat to the neighborhood.
A spokesman for Dominion Energy, Bonita Billingsley Harris, confirmed that the utility was among the first on the site and is working with investigators to learn more about this unfortunate situation.