LAS VEGAS – Morgan Cox has experienced a lot during his 13-year playing career.
The Titans long snapper has played in a Super Bowl and been named to five Pro Bowls. He's played in over 200 career games, in stadiums all over the country. He's made lifelong friends, and countless memories.
As Cox took a helicopter ride on Thursday morning into the Grand Canyon, over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, and then over the Las Vegas strip, Cox reflected on his journey, and the blessings that have come with it.
"I've seen God's hands on a lot of things as I kind of reflect on my career," Cox said. "I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given, and the unique experiences I have gotten to have because of this game."
Cox is in Las Vegas for the 2023 Pro Bowl Games. It's his first trip as a Titan after being named a Pro Bowler on four earlier occasions during his playing days with the Ravens, where he won a Super Bowl ring during the 2012 season.
Cox, who just finished his second season in Tennessee, admits this one is special. A Collierville native who played at the University of Tennessee, Cox is representing his home state – and the team he grew up cheering for as a youngster.
While overlooking the Las Vegas Strip on Thursday, Cox told a story about the time he traveled to a Titans game his senior year in high school with his buddies.
They took his mom's Suburban, and they painted "Titans" on it. They also painted letters on their chests, spelling out T-I-T-A-N-S.
"It was a memorable trip," Cox said with a smile.
Long before that, Cox remembers watching the Titans play in Super Bowl XXXIV, at his aunt and uncle's house in Memphis. The Titans-Rams game was projected on a bed sheet.
"I remember (Kevin) Dyson stretching out the ball," Cox said, "and being heartbroken."
Cox never dreamed he'd end up playing in the NFL himself.
It started with a childhood competition, and it's continued because of a lot of hard work.
As an 11-year-old, Cox went out for a football team called the 'Buccaneers' in the Collierville Youth Athletic Association. The coach was his dentist, Bill Burriss.
On the first day of practice, Burris brought all the players up and said they needed to fill the position of 'long snapper'. Everyone got in line, and they all got a chance to snap.
"My first shot at it was really pretty bad," Cox recalled. "So, they moved onto the next person."
But Cox said his father, who happened to be at practice that day, encouraged him to try it again, so he went to the side and practiced. He started to get the hang of it, and he got back in line.
The following year he was back in the mix, as a seventh grader, for the long snapping position at Evangelical Christian School.
"Over time," Cox said, "I got better and better."
Cox played in high school at ECS, got recruited by the University of Tennessee, and after paying his dues for a few years at the school – and learning from FG snapper Adam Miles and punt snapper Ryan West – he got his chance.
Cox ended up playing in 38 games in three seasons at Tennessee, and was then signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2010.
As they say, the rest is history.
Cox is humbled to be at the Pro Bowl again.
"It's an honor for me to be here, being a part of the Titans now," Cox said. "To be in my 13th year and to be able to experience the Pro Bowl again, it is truly an amazing honor and tough to put into words what it means to me."
Along the way, Cox said the backing from family and friends has made it even more special.
"The support from my home state has been amazing," he said. "No shortage of ticket requests, but that's been great as well. It's awesome to be able to play in front of people I've been around my whole life. I grew up in Memphis, went to school in Knoxville and everybody converging in Nashville is pretty cool."
Cox plans to enjoy the events surrounding the Pro Bowl Games this week.
He's scheduled to take part in a "Kick-Tac-Toe" event, and has other things planned as well.
"This isn't my kind of town to be honest," he said. "I'm a big saver, not much of a spender."
As he looks ahead, Cox plans to keep working to sharpen his craft.
Even after 13 years, he believes there's always room for improvement.
"I've put in a lot of time and work in kind of honing the craft," he said. "I can never say I have perfected it. I don't think there is such a thing. You're constantly want to chase perfection and find ways to improve your game, whether it be snapping, blocking, covering. I can always improve."
Cox is already looking forward to Year 14.
He's hoping it will be with the Titans.
"God has a plan, and I certainly hope to be back with the Titans next year," he said. "I am going to play as long as I possibly can. I love what I get to do, and I am grateful. I feel like I am still playing at a high level, and I am going to keep playing as long as I can."
