Will Levis Bio
William Donovan Levis, known professionally as Will Levis, is an American professional football quarterback for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Born on June 27, 1999, in Newton, Massachusetts, Levis rose through the college ranks at Penn State and Kentucky before being selected by the Titans in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 229 pounds, he brings a strong physical presence to the quarterback position and is recognized for his competitive drive and developing arm talent.
Early Life and Background
Levis was born on June 27, 1999, in Newton, Massachusetts, and grew up in Madison, Connecticut. His father, Mike Levis, played football at Denison University, an NCAA Division III program in Ohio, instilling an early appreciation for the sport within the household. His mother, Beth Kelley, was a two-time All-American soccer player at Yale, reinforcing a family culture rooted in collegiate athletics and competitive excellence.
His great-grandfather, Alva Kelley, was an All-American football player at Cornell University and later served as a head coach for three college programs. Levis attended Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut, where he set school records as a senior with 27 passing touchdowns and 2,793 passing yards. Following his senior season, he committed to Pennsylvania State University to play college football.
Path to American Football
Levis attended Pennsylvania State University from 2018 to 2020, where he spent his first year redshirting before serving as Sean Clifford’s backup across the following two seasons. He made his first collegiate start against Rutgers in 2019, completing eight of 14 passes for 81 yards with a touchdown and an interception while adding 108 rushing yards. Across his Penn State tenure, Levis completed 61 of 102 passes for 644 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while rushing for 473 yards and six touchdowns.
Levis transferred to the University of Kentucky in 2021 after graduating from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He was named the starter to open the season and delivered 367 yards and four touchdowns in his first start. He started all 13 games for the Wildcats, completing 233 of 353 passes for 2,827 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 376 yards and nine touchdowns, and led Kentucky to a victory over No. 15 Iowa in the 2022 Citrus Bowl.
Will Levis Career
Early Career (2018–2022)
Levis’s first notable stretch came at Penn State, where he developed as a dual-threat quarterback behind Sean Clifford. He appeared in spot duty and made a strong first start against Rutgers in 2019, showing the mobility that would later define his game. Across three seasons in State College, he built a foundation of rushing production alongside developing passing efficiency.
His transfer to Kentucky in 2021 marked a turning point, as he stepped into the full-time starter role immediately. Levis delivered a prolific debut campaign, finishing with 2,827 passing yards and 24 touchdown passes, while also adding nine rushing scores. He capped his Kentucky career with a Citrus Bowl victory over Iowa, securing his status as one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2023 NFL draft class.
NFL Breakthrough (2023)
Despite being projected as a first-round pick, Levis fell to the second day of the 2023 NFL draft, where the Tennessee Titans traded up to select him with the 33rd overall pick. On July 23, 2023, he signed a four-year, $9,542,165 contract with a $3,939,756 signing bonus. He began his rookie season as the third-string quarterback behind Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis.
On October 29, 2023, with Tannehill sidelined by an ankle injury, Levis made his NFL debut and first start, finishing with 238 passing yards and four touchdowns during a 28–23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons. The following week, he made his second start against the Pittsburgh Steelers, throwing for 262 yards in a 20–16 road loss. On November 7, 2023, head coach Mike Vrabel announced that Levis would be the starting quarterback for the Titans moving forward. On December 11, he threw for 327 yards and a touchdown as the Titans erased a 14-point deficit to defeat the Miami Dolphins 28–27, marking his first career 300-yard passing game. Levis finished his rookie season with 1,808 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions in nine games.
Tennessee Titans Era (2024–Present)
Levis became the Titans’ starting quarterback in 2024 following the departures of Tannehill and Willis, with newly signed Mason Rudolph named as backup. He began the season with a rocky stretch, going 1–4 across his first five games while completing 86 of 125 passes for 699 yards, five touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He led the league in total turnovers during that period, including one interception against the Chicago Bears that went viral.
During a Week 4 31–12 victory over the Miami Dolphins, Levis injured his AC joint and was relieved by Rudolph, though he was cleared after the bye week. He returned to play in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts before re-aggravating the injury and missing three games. Levis returned in Week 10 against the Los Angeles Chargers and followed with a strong showing against the Minnesota Vikings, throwing for 295 yards, an interception, and a career-high 98-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine that tied the franchise record for longest passing touchdown. He then led the Titans to a 32–27 upset road victory over the Houston Texans, completing 18 of 24 passes for 278 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. After a mixed outing against the Washington Commanders and subsequent struggles, he was benched in favor of Rudolph before alternating in the season finale against the Texans. He finished 2024 with 2,091 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions across 12 games and starts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Levis’s first NFL start against the Atlanta Falcons produced a four-touchdown debut that signaled his upside. His 98-yard touchdown pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine against the Minnesota Vikings tied the Tennessee franchise record for the longest passing touchdown. His 28–27 comeback win over the Miami Dolphins in 2023, in which the Titans overcame a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit, stands as one of his signature professional moments.
Will Levis Career Wins
Will Levis has compiled a developing body of work as a starting quarterback in the NFL, highlighted by his debut victory over the Atlanta Falcons in 2023 and a memorable comeback win over the Miami Dolphins later that season. His first career start produced a four-touchdown performance that immediately established his potential.
Tennessee Titans Highlights
Levis’s rookie wins include his debut against the Atlanta Falcons on October 29, 2023, and a dramatic comeback victory over the Miami Dolphins on December 11, 2023. In 2024, he posted his first victory of the season during a 31–12 win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 before later leading Tennessee to a 32–27 upset road victory over the Houston Texans. These performances bookended a turbulent second professional season.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Levis guided Kentucky to a victory over No. 15 Iowa in the 2022 Citrus Bowl, capping his Wildcats tenure with a marquee bowl win. He also posted multiple high-volume passing performances during his 13 starts at Kentucky, demonstrating his ability to deliver in big settings.
Will Levis Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Will Levis comes from a deeply athletic family with a multi-generational connection to football. His father, Mike Levis, played football at Denison University, while his mother, Beth Kelley, was a two-time All-American soccer player at Yale. His great-grandfather Alva Kelley was an All-American football player at Cornell University and later a head coach for three college teams, extending the family’s football pedigree across four generations.
Personal Life
Levis graduated from Penn State’s Smeal College of Business with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He gained widespread media attention leading up to the 2023 NFL draft for his unconventional eating and drinking habits, most notably eating unpeeled bananas and drinking coffee with mayonnaise. On August 22, 2023, he announced a lifetime supply contract with Hellmann’s mayonnaise, and in August 2024, Hellmann’s announced a fragrance inspired by him called Will Levis No. 8, Parfum de Mayonnaise.
2025 Season Performance
Following the Titans’ 3–14 record in 2024, the team held the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Despite public confidence from new Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi in Levis’s continued development, the Titans selected Cam Ward first overall, signaling a competitive shift at the quarterback position. The 2025 offseason brought a major setback for Levis.
On July 21, 2025, the Titans announced that Levis would undergo surgery on his throwing shoulder and would miss the entire 2025 season. Two days later, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve, ruling him out for the year and placing his long-term development and roster status on hold. The injury ended his 2025 campaign before it began and shifted the Titans’ quarterback depth chart for the season.