NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former Kentucky Wildcat Will Levis turned a passion for mayonnaise into a new endorsement deal. Levis, now with the Tennessee Titans, spritzed reporters’ wrists with the new scent developed with Hellman’s mayonnaise.
“Will Levis No 8” is yes, a parfum de mayonnaise that sold out quickly Tuesday at the grand total of $8 a bottle with another batch dropped Wednesday morning.
A whiff of the samples Levis offered up featured citrus and coffee notes for the quarterback, who attracted attention by putting mayo in his coffee while in college at Kentucky. The reaction after the 40-second commercial was instantaneous after being released.
“We didn’t expect how people were going to react to it, but I think it was like an hour or something and it was gone,” Levis said. “And $8 a bottle. It’s going for a good cause. And, it’s just a really fun partnership that we continue to do fun things. So, it’s been amazing to kind of see how it’s all unraveled.”
Levis is making sure teammates get a bottle.
“They’re just so surprised that it doesn’t smell, you know, unpleasant, and it smells good,” Levis said.
The Titans’ starting quarterback is going into his second NFL season, and this endorsement deal is unlike any other. He thanked the Titans for letting them shoot the commercial at the team facility, using the practice field and the indoor field.
Levis was involved in the process of developing this unique fragrance with vials sent to him for feedback. He compared the smell to a resort lobby or hotel and has been busy enough he hasn’t checked his social media mentions or texts.
He’s in on the joke with the commercial having a serious approach. Levis appears to drink from a jar of mayonnaise and at one point eats mayo off his finger while laying down on the field.
“As silly and goofy as that was, the more serious I took it, the funnier I knew it would be,” Levis said.
That approach is what the Titans need from the second-year quarterback who was the 33rd pick overall out of Kentucky in the 2023 draft. Levis went 3-6, then Tennessee fired Mike Vrabel as coach and hired Brian Callahan to upgrade the offense.
Tennessee also spent lots of money and draft capital to surround Levis with help.
General manager Ran Carthon signed wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, center Lloyd Cushenberry and running back Tony Pollard in free agency. He also drafted new left tackle JC Latham out of Alabama at No. 7 overall.
How well Callahan’s offense runs comes down to the 6-foot-4 Levis connecting with his new teammates.
Three-time Pro Bowl receiver DeAndre Hopkins is out with an injured knee, and Boyd is day to day with a bruised foot. Levis looked to connect with Ridley on Wednesday against a Seattle defense up for the challenge. The biggest completions came to Jha’Quan Jackson, who broke off a couple of long TD runs.
Ridley took the blame for not being in position for a couple of deep passes from Levis after beating his defender off the ball, only to slow down a bit too much.
“I just got to run full speed all the time,” Ridley said.
Splitting up
These joint practices feature teams with first-year head coaches in the Titans’ Brian Callahan and Mike Macdonald for Seattle. Callahan was the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati before being hired, while Macdonald oversaw Baltimore’s defense before his new job.
Callahan watched the Titans run his offense Wednesday, while Macdonald watched his defense. Macdonald said he plans to move around more at Thursday’s second session ahead of Saturday night’s preseason game.
The Titans coach couldn’t wait to watch tape of how his defense handled Seattle.
Newly signed safety Quandre Diggs worked alongside Titans safety Amani Hooker. Cornerbacks L’Jarius Sneed didn’t practice while his playing time is managed and Chidobe Awuzie watched some of the practice as he recovers from an injured calf.
With Hopkins out, Treylon Burks pulled up on a deep ball and was limping a bit before walking inside with a trainer. Callahan said it was simply cramps on one of the hottest days of training camp.