John Franklin-Myers

PRO: The Titans signed John Franklin-Myers early in the 2026 free agency period to add physicality and aggression to the defensive front. The 6-foot-4-inch, 288-pound defensive lineman prides himself on violence and wreaking havoc among opponents' offensive trenches.  Franklin-Myers was originally selected by the L.A. Rams in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft and spent his rookie NFL campaign with the club.  He was claimed off waivers by the N.Y. Jets in 2019 and spent the next five seasons with the organization.  The Stephen F. Austin product joined the Denver Broncos via trade in 2024 and played two seasons with the team.  Prior to his arrival in Tennessee, he appeared in 114 games with 83 starts and amassed 200 tackles, 34 sacks, 251 quarterback pressures, an interception, seven passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:  
• In 2025, Franklin-Myers registered 25 tackles, including a career-best 7.5 sacks, 39 quarterback pressures and six tackles for loss.
• In his first year with the Broncos in 2024, Franklin-Myers set a career high with 40 tackles and a then career-best with seven sacks.
• In 2023, Franklin-Myers notched 33 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 42 quarterback pressures and a career-high three passes defensed in his final season with the Jets.

TITANS TIDBITS:  
• Franklin-Myers is familiar with the middle Tennessee area. His future in-laws live in Charlotte, Tenn., located just north of Dickson, about 40 miles west of Nashville. The family happened to buy five acres of land there not too long ago, and Franklin-Myers visited often with his fiance – after first making stops at Prince's Hot Chicken, of course.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:  
• The Greenville, Texas, native was selected by the L.A. Rams in the fourth round (135th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
• Waived by the Rams on Aug. 31, 2019.
• Claimed off waivers by the N.Y. Jets on Sept. 1, 2019.
• Traded by the Jets to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round pick on April 27, 2024.
• Signed by the Titans as an unrestricted free agent on March 12, 2026.

SEASON RECAPS:

2025 (16/15, 2/2 - Denver):  Played in 16 games with 15 starts and posted 25 tackles, including a career-best 7.5 sacks, 39 quarterback pressures and six tackles for loss.  Was inactive for the regular season finale.  Started both postseason contests and registered a tackle.
• At L.A. Chargers (9/21), collected three tackles, including a six-yard sack of Justin Herbert on third-and-four in the final stanza.
• Against Jacksonville (12/21), notched three tackles and tied a career-high with two sacks. Dropped Trevor Lawrence for a two-yard sack in the opening stanza. Halted a Jaguars' drive by sacking Lawrence on third-and-10 in the fourth quarter.

2024 (17/16, 1/1 - Denver):  Appeared in 17 games with 16 starts in his first season with the Broncos, recording a career-high 40 tackles and seven sacks.  Registered a career-high 44 quarterback pressures and eight tackles for loss.  Started the postseason contest.
• At N.Y. Jets (9/29), totaled three tackles, including a seven-yard sack of Aaron Rodgers.
• At Baltimore (11/3), nabbed four tackles, including an 11-yard sack of Lamar Jackson.
• At Kansas City (11/10), registered three tackles, including a six-yard sack of Patrick Mahomes, his second consecutive contest recording a quarterback takedown.
• Against Kansas City (1/5), recorded a nine-yard sack of Carson Wentz, setting a new single-season career high in sacks.

2023 (17/17 - N.Y. Jets):  Started all 17 games and notched 33 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 42 quarterback pressures and a career-high three passes defensed.  Anchored a defensive line that helped the Jets rank first in the league in yards allowed per play (4.57), second in passing defense (168.3 ypg) and third in total defense (292.3 ypg).
• Against Buffalo (9/11), totaled four tackles, including a nine-yard sack of Josh Allen in the season opener.
• Against L.A. Chargers (11/6), posted two tackles, including an 11-yard sack of Justin Herbert. Set a career-high with three passes defensed.
• At Las Vegas (11/12), tallied a sack in a second consecutive game after taking down Aidan O'Connell for an 11-yard loss.

2022 (17/17 - N.Y. Jets):  Started all 17 games and totaled 38 tackles, five sacks, 35 quarterback pressures and a pass defensed.  Played on a defense that finished fourth in the league in total defense (311.1 ypg), third in passing defense (189.4 ypg) and second in yards per play (4.8).
• At Pittsburgh (10/2), set a career-high with seven tackles.
• At Seattle (1/1), amassed four tackles, including his fifth sack of the season when he dropped Geno Smith for a 12-yard loss on third-and-nine in the second quarter.

2021 (16/16 - N.Y. Jets):  Started all 16 games for the first time in his career and posted 35 tackles, a then career-high six sacks, 43 quarterback pressures, an interception and a forced fumble.
• At Carolina (9/12), made three tackles, including a nine-yard sack of Sam Darnold on third-and-two in the third quarter of the season opener.
• Against Tennessee (10/3), notched four tackles, including an eight-yard sack of Ryan Tannehill.
• At Houston (11/28), posted three tackles, set a career-high with two sacks and registered his first career interception. Picked off a Tyrod Taylor pass intended for David Johnson and returned it 32 yards in the first quarter. Dropped Taylor for a seven-yard sack late in the first quarter. Sacked Taylor for a 10-yard loss in the second stanza.

2020 (15/2 - N.Y. Jets):  Played in 15 games with two starts for the Jets and amassed 19 tackles, three sacks, 28 quarterback pressures, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles.  Was inactive for the regular season opener.
• Against Arizona (10/11), recorded four tackles, including an 11-yard sack of Kyler Murray in the third quarter.
• At Kansas City (11/1), made his first career NFL start and collected three tackles.
• Against Cleveland (12/27), notched three tackles, including a nine-yard sack of Baker Mayfield in the second quarter. Added a pass defensed and fumble recovery.

2019 (0/0 - N.Y. Jets):  Claimed off waivers by the Jets on Sept. 1.  Was inactive for the first three weeks of the season.  Placed on injured reserve on Oct. 4 and missed the final 13 games.

2018 (16/0, 3/0 - L.A. Rams):  Played in all 16 games as a rookie for the Rams and collected 10 tackles, two sacks, 20 quarterback pressures, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.  Saw action as a reserve in three postseason contests and registered three tackles, including a nine-yard sack.
• At Oakland (9/10), made his NFL debut and totaled two tackles.
• Against Minnesota (9/27), forced a fumble and recorded his first career sack. Sealed the game by sacking Kirk Cousins for a four-yard loss and forcing a fumble that was recovered by Ndamukong Suh with 1:18 remaining in the fourth quarter.
• At Chicago (12/9), dropped Mitchell Trubisky for a 10-yard sack on third-and-five in the first quarter.
• Against New England in Super Bowl LIII (2/3), dropped Tom Brady for nine-yard sack and forced a fumble that was recovered by David Andrews in the first quarter.

COLLEGE: 
• Saw action in 41 games with 33 starts in four seasons (2014-17) at Stephen F. Austin. Collected 130 tackles (70 solo), 17.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries and five forced fumbles. Completed his collegiate career fifth on Stephen F. Austin's all-time career tackles for loss list with 37.5 and finished ninth in program history with 17.5 career sacks.
• As a senior (2017), named second-team All-Southland Conference after playing 11 games with 10 starts and totaling 55 tackles (27 solo), 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble.
• As a junior (2016), appeared in all 11 games with nine starts on his way to first-team All-Southland Conference honors. Registered 32 tackles (20 solo), eight sacks, two fumble recoveries and four forced fumbles.
• As a sophomore (2015), earned second-team All-Southland Conference honors after posting 32 tackles (17 solo), six sacks and five quarterback hits in 11 games with four starts.
• As a true freshman (2014), appeared in eight games and notched 11 tackles (six solo), including a tackle for loss.
• Majored in kinesiology at Stephen F. Austin.

PERSONAL:  
• Attended Greenville (Texas) High School, where he was a three-year defensive starter, two-time first-team all-district and honorable mention all-district.
• Was also named Defensive MVP twice for the program.
• Also lettered in basketball and track and field.
• His brother Ernesto Villasenor played on the defensive line at Adams State.
• Named to the 2018 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society for maintaining a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout his collegiate career.
• Follow Franklin-Myers on Instagram and on X at @j_franklinmyers.
• Born John Franklin-Myers on Sept. 26, 1996 in Los Angeles, Calif.