Arden Key will have two dates circled against his former club this fall.
Key inked a three-year, $21 million contract with the Tennessee Titans after one stellar season with the AFC South-rival Jacksonville Jaguars. During his introductory news conference Monday, he said he felt "disrespected" that the Jaguars didn't do more to keep him.
"With Jacksonville, it was a shock to me. I ain't gonna lie. After the year, I thought I was going to be a Jacksonville Jaguar," Key said. "I felt disrespected because I came in over there, built up the culture, brought a whole lot of energy, changed the city, changed the town. I felt like in my rightful mind, I was going to be a Jacksonville Jaguar. That didn't happen."
A third-round pick by the Raiders in 2018, Key disappointed his first three seasons, netting three total sacks before being waived in 2021. He signed a one-year deal with San Francisco and revamped his career, earning a career-high 6.5 sacks with the Niners.
Key joined Jacksonville last offseason and became a pivotal rotational rusher. He generated 4.5 sacks and 44 total pressures. The Jags' pass rush was clearly bolstered whenever he was on the field in place of No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker.
Now joining Tennessee, Key will have a chance to show Jacksonville what it will be missing twice a year.
"I still love the players, love the teammates, love the city, love the fans, but yeah, we gotta see them twice," he said with a smirk.
