NFL player loses father in home explosion

Tennessee Titans player Caleb Farley’s house exploded on Monday the 21st of August.

Emergency services were quick to the scene and after searching through the rubble and debris found the body of Farley’s father, Robert who was 61.

Image credit: Instagram @cr_farley

Farley’s house was in North Carolina, the state of his birth.

Investigators are not treating the explosion as suspicious, focusing their attention on the gas lines in and around the house as they try to find the cause of the blast.

Image credit: Instagram @cr_farley

The explosion and subsequent collapse of the property leveled the multi-million dollar home, leaving nothing but rubble.

In an interview with The Tennesseean the director of fire services and emergency management for Iredell County stated, “There's nothing left of this structure except a partial wall."

A family friend of the Farleys was in the house at the time but somehow escaped with minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.

According to reports from Queen City News, neighbors could smell gas in the lead-up to the explosion before they heard, “A loud boom, about five minutes to midnight”, per Clay Wild, who lives nearby.

Caleb Farley was seen talking to emergency service personnel near the scene on Tuesday as he attempts to come to terms with this shocking incident.

Farley’s Titans teammates have attempted to rally behind the young defensive back, with head coach Mike Vrabel leading the team in prayer after their training camp practice on Tuesday.

Vrabel spoke to the press after practice finished where he said, “What's most important is that we do everything we can to support him emotionally. It's shocking. We've got to focus on Caleb and his family, and how we can support him.”

Veteran safety Kevin Byard also spoke to reporters where he made his intentions to support his fellow defensive back clear, saying, I know he lost his mother at a young age as well, he's dealt with a lot of adversity. It's very tragic. It's an unimaginable tragedy.”

Byard was referencing Farley’s mother, Robin, who died after battling cancer when she was only 53.

Another Titans player, Derrick Henry also lent their support to Farley, telling reporters, “'I don't want to talk too much about it, I don't know all the details. I'm praying for him, praying for his family. We all send our condolences. A tragic situation.”

Farley has been unable to practice so far this training camp as he is returning from a herniated disc issue that has kept him sidelined for some time.

Caleb Farley is only 24 years old and is entering his third season in the NFL after he was drafted by the Titans in the first round of the 2021 draft.