Julius Chestnut Bio
Julius Chestnut is an American professional football running back and kickoff returner for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Born on October 26, 2000, in Bowie, Maryland, he played college football for the Sacred Heart Pioneers before joining the NFL ranks. Chestnut signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and has been a part of the team since then, contributing primarily as a running back and on special teams.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing around 228 pounds, Chestnut has carved out a role on a crowded Tennessee depth chart through his work on kickoff returns and as a complementary ball carrier. He wears jersey number 36 for the Titans and remains on the active roster heading into the current season.
Early Life and Background
Julius Chestnut was born and raised in Bowie, Maryland, a suburb located just outside the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Growing up in a region known for producing competitive football talent, Chestnut developed his athletic foundation at a young age and emerged as one of the more promising local players of his generation.
He attended Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland, where he played prep football and built the skills that would eventually draw the attention of college recruiters. Archbishop Spalding has a strong athletic tradition, and Chestnut used his time there to refine his abilities as a running back while also contributing on special teams.
Path to American Football
After high school, Chestnut committed to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he joined the Sacred Heart Pioneers football program. Sacred Heart competes in the Northeast Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level, also known as FCS. Chestnut quickly adjusted to the college game and began earning significant responsibilities in the Pioneers offense.
His development at Sacred Heart was steady and noticeable. By the time he finished his collegiate career in 2021, he had collected several major individual honors, including Northeast Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, multiple All-Northeast Conference selections, and Associated Press FCS All-American recognition in 2019 and 2021. In 2021 he was also named Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and earned AFCA 1st-team All-American honors. Although he went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, his college production made him an attractive free agent prospect.
Julius Chestnut Career
Early Career (2022)
Julius Chestnut signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and entered a crowded running back room. Following the final roster cuts, Chestnut, along with fellow undrafted rookie Tre Avery, made the Titans active roster. He was inactive for the first three games of the season before being waived on October 1, 2022.
Just days later, on October 4, 2022, Chestnut was re-signed to the Tennessee practice squad. He was promoted back to the active roster on December 17, 2022, and appeared in six games during his rookie season. In that limited sample he made ten kick returns, three rushes, and three receptions for a combined 238 total yards, giving the Titans a glimpse of his special teams value.
NFL Breakthrough (2023)
Chestnut entered the 2023 season listed third on the Titans running back depth chart. The opportunity, however, was interrupted by a hamstring injury suffered in Week 3, which led to a stint on injured reserve. As a result, his 2023 campaign was limited to brief appearances in just three games, a setback that tested his resolve and forced him to focus on recovery.
Despite the injury-shortened year, Chestnut remained in the Titans organization and continued to develop his role as a kickoff returner and complementary runner. His perseverance through that difficult season helped position him for a larger opportunity the following year.
Tennessee Titans Era (2024–Present)
On March 13, 2024, Chestnut re-signed with the Titans on a one-year contract, once again slotted as the third running back on the depth chart. He went on to appear in all 17 games during the 2024 season, recording 102 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards, and 337 kick return yards. His durability and consistency across a full season solidified his value to the Titans.
Building on that momentum, Chestnut re-signed with the Titans on a one-year contract on March 19, 2025, continuing his tenure in Tennessee. He remained in the organization on a one-year contract signed on March 17, 2026, keeping him in the Titans running back room as a depth piece and core kickoff returner.
Driving Style and Strengths
Chestnut is known for his special teams dependability and his steady contributions as a change-of-pace runner. Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 228 pounds, he brings a compact build suited to the physical demands of an NFL running back room, while his acceleration and vision help him excel in space as a kickoff returner. His willingness to embrace a complementary role has allowed him to stay productive in a competitive depth chart.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the milestones in Chestnut’s young NFL career are making the Titans roster as an undrafted rookie in 2022, appearing in all 17 games during the 2024 season, and earning successive one-year contracts that have kept him in Tennessee through the following seasons. His college accolades, including AFCA 1st-team All-American honors in 2021, also stand out as defining achievements on his path to the league.
Julius Chestnut Career Wins
As a depth running back and core special teams contributor, Julius Chestnut’s statistical profile with the Tennessee Titans reflects steady usage rather than headline rushing totals. Across his NFL career through 2025, he has accumulated 154 rushing yards on a 3.7-yard average, 5 receptions for 52 receiving yards, and 633 return yards, illustrating his primary value on kickoffs.
NFL Highlights
Chestnut’s first NFL games came late in the 2022 season after he was promoted from the practice squad in mid-December, finishing his rookie year with six appearances. He then battled through a hamstring injury in 2023 before enjoying his most complete season in 2024, when he played all 17 games and contributed on offense, in the passing game, and on kick returns. His multi-year run of one-year contracts reflects continued organizational trust.
Other Wins and Performances
Before arriving in the NFL, Chestnut starred at Sacred Heart, where his 2018 Northeast Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year award signaled his arrival. He added 1st-team All-Northeast Conference honors and an Associated Press FCS 3rd-team All-American selection in 2019, before peaking with Northeast Conference Offensive Player of the Year and both AFCA and Associated Press FCS 1st-team All-American recognition in 2021.
Julius Chestnut Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Julius Chestnut grew up in Bowie, Maryland, and attended Archbishop Spalding High School in nearby Severn, where he built the foundation for his football career. His Maryland roots have remained a consistent part of his identity as he has progressed from local standout to NFL professional.
Personal Life
Public information about Chestnut’s personal life is limited. He is recognized as an American professional football player based in Tennessee with the Titans, and details about his immediate family, marital status, or children have not been publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Julius Chestnut is positioned once again as a depth running back and primary kickoff returner for the Tennessee Titans. After re-signing with the club on a one-year contract in March 2025, he is expected to play a complementary role behind the top of the Titans running back depth chart while handling core special teams duties.
His 2024 production, which included appearances in all 17 games, established a strong baseline for the 2025 campaign. Tennessee’s continued investment in Chestnut through successive one-year contracts suggests he will remain a fixture on the active roster and on kick coverage units, with his workload likely tied to game scripts and injury situations in the backfield.
As the 2025 season unfolds, Chestnut’s outlook centers on sustaining his reliability as a returner and finding opportunities as a runner when called upon. His combination of experience, special teams value, and familiarity with the Titans system should keep him in the mix for a meaningful role on one of the NFL’s most physical units.
