Wide receiver Lance McCutcheon, a 27-year-old who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Montana State in 2022, announced his retirement from professional football in March, thanking five organizations across four seasons on Instagram.
That farewell did not hold. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported today, April 1, that McCutcheon had second thoughts and is signing a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans were his most recent employer before his retirement announcement, and they are the team bringing him back.
For a player who spent most of his NFL career chasing a roster spot that never came in the regular season, the call to return from retirement says something real about what he still believes is possible.
The Preseason Moments That Kept McCutcheon in NFL Conversations for Four Years
McCutcheon was a legitimate star at the college level before any of this. His final season at Montana State produced 63 catches for 1,219 yards and nine touchdowns, earning him first-team All-Big Sky Conference honors, according to Montana Sports.
Aug 13, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Lance McCutcheon (82) catches an 11-yard touchdown pass in the second half as Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Brandon Sebastian (38) defends at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Aug 13, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Lance McCutcheon (82) catches an 11-yard touchdown pass in the second half as Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Brandon Sebastian (38) defends at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Former #Steelers and #Titans WR Lance McCutcheon, who had announced his retirement earlier this offseason, had second thoughts and is now signing a 1-year deal with Tennessee, sources say.
An intriguing resolution for the 27-year old and a new opportunity. pic.twitter.com/HNuK4apJIz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2026
He signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022. That preseason, McCutcheon led the entire NFL in receiving yards with 259, a stretch that earned him a spot on the Rams’ initial 53-man roster.
The regular season was a different story. He appeared in 10 games primarily on special teams and did not record a reception. The Rams waived him in 2023. What followed was a tour of practice squads: the Houston Texans, the New York Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and eventually Tennessee. His last regular season action was that 2022 Rams campaign, and it never came again after that.
Aug 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lance McCutcheon (82) catches the ball for a touchdown as Carolina Panthers cornerback Shemar Bartholomew (27) follows close behind during the 2nd quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Allison Lawhon-Imagn Images
Aug 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Lance McCutcheon (82) catches the ball for a touchdown as Carolina Panthers cornerback Shemar Bartholomew (27) follows close behind during the 2nd quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Allison Lawhon-Imagn Images
In Pittsburgh, he flashed one more time. McCutcheon caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Skylar Thompson in the 2025 preseason against Carolina. That play kept him relevant. The regular season roster never came.
When he retired on Instagram, he wrote: “4 years and 5 teams is more than I could ever ask for. For a kid from Bozeman, MT to get to live in these cities and play and represent each of these teams, it was truly a dream come true.”
What Tennessee’s Decision to Bring McCutcheon Back Actually Means for Both Sides
McCutcheon is not the only player the Titans are adding this week. Tennessee is also signing quarterback Hendon Hooker, running back Michael Carter, and wide receiver K.J. Osborn.
Each of those additions arrives without a guaranteed roster spot. Tennessee is building depth and competition, not completing a final 53.
McCutcheon fits that environment better than most. He has spent his entire career competing for roster spots in August, and his preseason production has consistently been real, not inflated by weak competition.
The Titans released him in January before his retirement announcement came in March. That they are now re-signing him suggests the conversation between player and team did not fully close when the release happened.
At 27, there is still time for the regular season to finally match what the preseason has shown. Tennessee is giving McCutcheon the chance to find out whether this time is different.