Kevin Dyson, a former wide receiver, played with the 13-3 Tennessee Titans, who reached Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta 25 years ago. This was the team’s first full season under its new name, and they made it to the NFL’s championship game.
In a dramatic finale, Dyson caught a pass from quarterback Steve McNair with just three seconds remaining, but fell one yard short of scoring the tying touchdown. The St. Louis Rams ultimately claimed the victory with a score of 23-16.
Reflecting on that moment in an ESPN interview, Dyson remarked, “Wow, man. It still doesn’t get any easier watching it. I thought I’d moved on after 25 years, but that one still hurts, bro!”
The Titans had another strong season, finishing 13-3 the following year, but were knocked out in the 2000 AFC Divisional Round. Since that Super Bowl appearance, the Titans have seen varying degrees of success, making it back to the Conference Championship game only twice (in 2002 and 2019).
Now coming off a challenging 3-14 season, the current Titans team faces an important rebuilding phase as they look toward 2025. Few expect them to compete for a World Championship next February. Maximizing the potential of this year’s No. 1 overall pick—whether to secure a game-changing player or to trade for additional picks—will be vital to kickstarting that rebuilding effort. Teams often feel optimistic about returning to the Super Bowl after a loss.
Dyson concluded, “I think I’ve turned that moment into a life lesson now.”
