Nashville’s selection as the home of the 2019 NFL Draft places the city in the company of some of the most storied football cities in the country. In many hours of interviews with current and former Titans players, executives, players and city leaders, The Tennessean's journalists set out to chronicle the history of pro football in Nashville.

An underdog quest for a team. A meteoric rise to Superbowl contention. A fall into mediocrity punctuated by the murder of its one-time star quarterback. And a resurgence that has brought renewed excitement to Nashville.  

Through tragedy and triumph, this is the unlikely story of how the Music City scored an NFL team, performed a football miracle and fought its way back to the national spotlight.