NASHVILLE – Morgan Cox's road to the NFL took a lot of hard work, and perseverance.
Born in Collierville, Tennessee, Cox played high school football at Evangelical Christian. He then had to make a case for himself as a walk-on at the University of Tennessee, where he'd eventually earn a scholarship.
After not being selected in the 2010 NFL Draft, Cox earned a roster spot as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens. And, on September 13, 2010, he was in the starting lineup as a long snapper for the Ravens against the Jets in the season opener on Monday Night Football.
Even that was an accomplishment worth celebrating.
And, before Cox took the field, his phone was blowing up with congratulatory messages.
About his wedding engagement.
"We had a lightning delay," a smiling Cox recalled. "I had gotten engaged the week before, and I remember Lauren had just told all of her college friends. So, the news started getting out right as the game was starting. But because of the delay I came back (in the locker room) and my phone was exploding – not because I was starting in my first NFL game, but because we had just got engaged."
A lot has changed since.
Morgan and Lauren Cox have now been married 14 years, and they have four children with another on the way, due in July.
And, on Sunday in Jacksonville, Cox will play in his 250th career NFL game.
"It's almost hard to believe," Cox said. "And just to think of how much my life has changed. When I left for my rookie year, I packed up everything I owned into a Chevy Avalanche. Packing up now with four kids and a family, it looks totally different.
"All the support from Lauren, and everything she has done for me and our family. My parents (Wright and Cindy), they have been by my side through it all. It's really special. And, starting out my football career in Collierville, Tennessee, I never would have dreamed 250 games in the NFL. And the support from Lauren, my parents, my family, it has meant the world to me."
Cox said his father sends him a Bible verse before every game. He jokes he's not sure his mother has ever seen him snap, because she usually has her head down praying.
Cox hasn't missed a game since joining the Titans in 2021, after playing his first 11 seasons (2010-2020) with the Ravens.
In 16 NFL seasons, Cox has been named to five Pro Bowls. He's a three-time captain, and a Super Bowl winner (2012 in Baltimore).
Cox has overcome two ACL surgeries – one in 2010 when he was trapped under a group of players, and one in 2014 when he was covering a punt, trying to chase down Hall of Famer Devin Hester.
"It didn't go very well," Cox, laughing, said of trying to track down Hester. "If not (for the ACL), I would have gotten him."
His career, well, it's safe to say it's gone very well, although he admittedly had to dig even deeper after his second ACL injury.
"I remember taking my pads off, and the nature of it, you just wonder if that's the last time you are going to take your pads off," Cox said. "But that taught me a lot more about resilience, and coming back from injury. The NFL, they don't care about injuries, you have to play at your best."
Cox, who will turn 40 in April, has no plans to retire anytime soon.
When he plays on Sunday against the Jaguars, he'll become just the 64th player in NFL history to play in 250 games.
Cox has his sights set on many more, and he'd like to topple some other Vols on the list – Jason Witten (271 games), Peyton Manning (266) and Dustin Colquitt (255). As of today, Cox is tied with former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with 249 games played.
Kicker Morten Andersen, by the way, holds the NFL record for games played with 382 while playing from 1982-2007.
"I definitely want to keep playing – I love it too much," Cox said. "I love the locker room, I love the guys, I love the challenge of it – I'll go as long as they'll let me. If I feel good, and still feel I can compete at a high level, I want to go as long as I can.
"But yeah, it has gone by fast. The days are long, the years are short, and it goes by in a flash."
