Calvin Ridley Reveals the Unexpected Mindset That Makes Cam Ward a Game-Changing QB

Calvin Ridley’s journey across NFL quarterbacks has given him a unique lens on what makes a signal-caller tick — and now, with rookie No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, Ridley’s picking up on something special. After a casual visit where Ward met Ridley’s brother, a distinct calm settled, catching even Ridley off guard. “He’s relaxed,” Ridley shared, highlighting a rare mindset in a position often fraught with jitters and overthinking. That laid-back confidence—what Ridley calls the “‘fuck it’ mentality”—could be just the tonic the Titans have craved for years. But beyond the mental edge, Ridley is working hard to sync up with Ward, flipping the script by approaching their chemistry from a quarterback’s vantage point. It’s a new chapter, and as the season looms, the real question remains: will this budding partnership turn into the game-changing connection Tennessee desperately needs? This is all worth watching—especially after Ridley’s solid debut season with the Titans, racking over a thousand yards and proving he’s a key piece in the puzzle. LEARN MORE

“Like I said, it’s easy to relate to him, for me. He’s fun, easy to talk ball with. I just like him a lot, man.”Now working with rookie No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, Ridley had one notable thing to say about the young quarterback’s mindset as he’s gotten to know him. He noted on Tuesday that Ward came to his house and got to meet his brother. And after Ward left, Ridley’s brother noted the calmness that exuded from Ward.Receiver Calvin Ridley has played with a few different quarterbacks in his career, so he has a good idea of what it takes for one to be successful.“I honestly want to hear what he thinks because I want to be in the spot where he wants me,” Ridley said. “So I ask him first, what did I do wrong on the play? No matter the throw, or the catch, or whatever it is — what do I need to do to make you feel better? And then I try to pick his brain of what do I need to do to make you feel better? So that’s pretty much what we’re doing.We’ll see how the budding chemistry between quarterback and receiver translates to the field in the fall. Last season, his first with Tennessee, Ridley finished with 64 receptions for 1,017 yards with four touchdowns. He also took eight carries for 55 yards with a TD.

“He’s relaxed,” Ridley said, via Turron Davenport of ESPN. “You need that at the quarterback position, man. You can’t just be an overthinker, a jittery guy. You’ve just got to kind of be OK with, you know, fucking up, doing good.“You’ve just got to have that ‘fuck it’ mentality. He’s kind of got that.”The other thing Ridley is doing at this point is trying to make sure he and Ward are on the same page, and he’s doing it from the quarterback’s perspective.That’s good news for a Titans team that has lacked a franchise QB in recent years who can elevate the team in critical situations.