NASHVILLE – Everyone calls Julius Chestnut "Juice."
At least one of his coaches thinks of him as Mr. Everything.
Chestnut, in his fifth training camp with the Titans, wants to be known as a guy willing to do anything and everything. And, since arriving in town five seasons ago as an undrafted free agent out of Sacred Heart University, he's proven to be valuable, and worthy.
"I just try and work hard, because it's how I was raised," Chestnut said after Tuesday's practice. "I've been an underdog my whole life, but I've always been someone who is willing to work. I'll always do everything I can to help."
A 5-foot-11, 228-pound running back, Chestnut still remembers being in "culture shock" when he first joined the franchise as an undrafted free agent out of Sacred Heart University in 2022. Everyone was good, he recalled, especially his new teammate, running back Derrick Henry.
So, Chestnut learned as much as he could, worked as hard as he could, and did as much as he could.
He still remembers how good Henry was to him back then.
"He treated me like a little brother," Chestnut said of Henry. "(When I was a rookie) he welcomed me in the room with open arms, and I am very grateful for that. Whatever he could do to help me, he helped me. If I made a mistake at practice, he came right to me and told me what I needed to do better, what I needed to fix.
"Looking back, that helped me a lot."
But Chestnut did the work, something he's done since he was a kid.
Chestnut's father, Keith, always put him in situations that would make him uncomfortable, because he thought his son would grow, and learn from them.
Growing up in Bowie, Maryland, Chestnut's dad had him working for the family's landscaping company, even some mornings before school, but regularly during the summer. It was hot, the work wasn't easy, and Chestnut has always had bad allergies.
Chestnut's dad also made sure his son played little league sports with the older kids. Chestnut started school a year early, instead of being held back. And, before his ninth-grade year, Chestnut's parents moved him from public school to private school, even if it meant he had to separate from his friends. Chestnut's parents had to drive him 45 minutes each way to get there.
"It taught me lessons about sacrificing, and competing," Chestnut said. "My dad said that brings out the best of me."
It all paid off, of course. Chestnut developed into a mature and developed high school player, and he became a highly productive running back at Sacred Heart, where he rushed for 3,467 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Chestnut has made the Titans roster four years in a row, and he's hoping to prove to the organization he's worthy of a fifth. In the NFL, all teams have to trim to 53 players by Sunday.
Chestnut has established himself in the pros by doing "everything," special teams coordinator John Fassel said.
"Everything, everything, I mean everything," Fassel said of Chestnut, before heaping more praise on him. "Tackling, blocking, returning, protecting, leadership, everything – everything.
"He is one of the best I've ever had. Last year, we kept a point chart for production and participation for regular season, and in my 18 years as a coordinator, doing the same exact point chart, (Julius) scored the highest number of points in any regular season for special teams in my 18 years. He does everything, he is incredible."
In four NFL seasons, Chestnut has played in 43 games. He's been a valuable special teams performer, covering kicks, and returning them. He's carried the football, caught passes, and found his way on other special teams units, wherever he's needed. Chestnut led the Titans with 17 special teams tackles in 2025, the highest total for a Titans player since Tim Shaw had 19 in 2010.
After two games this preseason, Chestnut leads the team with 95 rushing yards, and he also has three catches for 24 yards. He's shown up on special teams.
With a smile, Chestnut said he's willing to do whatever is asked of him.
And that's probably why when he returns home – even as a pro athlete – his dad still knocks on his door to help him, whether he needs help cutting grass or laying mulch. Chestnut still grabs his face mask, and goes.
"Sometimes when I get there at night, I'm thinking he won't come knock on my door," Chestnut said, smiling again. "But he'll come knock on my door and tell me we're up at 5 in the morning to work. … My dad always says he'd bet on me every time, in anything I do. I just want to make him proud."
