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#143 Marketing Like a Titan: Inside the NFL with Nate Bain and Jenny DeLoach

“I think what’s amazing about music and sports and the throughline with that and marketing and live events is that you’re just continuing to create experiences for people and open up opportunities for people within those experiences.” – Jenny DeLoach
Nate Bain is now in his 12th season in the NFL and eighth with the Tennessee Titans. He originally joined the Titans in 2017 after three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, where he served as Digital Media Manager. As Social Media Manager, Nate oversees the Titans’ social media strategy, content development, and platform management. Jenny DeLoach, a Nashville native, transitioned to the NFL following a 12-year career in the live touring industry as a talent representative. She joined the Titans in 2024 and currently serves as Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement. In this conversation, Nate and Jenny dive into their career journeys, what drives their passion for fan connection, and how they approach marketing in the ever-evolving landscape of the NFL.

About the Episode

Welcome to the ultimate deep dive into the hearts and minds powering the Tennessee Titans’ marketing machine! On this journey, we bring you an up-close look at how two industry standouts—Nate (Director of Social Media & Influencer Marketing) and Jenny (Director of Marketing & Fan Engagement)—are shaping the future for fans, families, and the whole Nashville community. Whether you’re a marketer, a diehard football fan, or just curious about what goes on behind the scenes, grab your favorite team’s jersey, settle in, and let’s get going.

Meet the Mavericks: Who Are Nate & Jenny?

Let’s kick off with an intro worthy of a game day announcement. Nate and Jenny are breaking boundaries at the Tennessee Titans. Jenny is only six months into her role as Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement, bringing years of experience from the music industry. Nate helms the Titans’ digital presence as Director of Social Media and Influencer Marketing.

“We just love getting our hands dirty, building community, connecting people, and hyping up the stuff we love. That’s what marketing’s all about.”

What Does Marketing Mean to Us?

Marketing means a lot of things to a lot of people. For Jenny and Nate, though, it boils down to connection and creating shared spaces.

“For me? It’s about spreading awareness, connecting with people one-on-one, and creating those crossroads where your brand and your community meet.” — Jenny

Nate builds on that with a focus on community:

  • Community Building: Creating shared spaces for fans, families, and newcomers to feel at home.
  • Connecting Over What Matters: Whether it’s a football game, a hometown hero, or a viral campaign—connection is always at the heart.

Fandom Roots: How We Got Into This Crazy World

You don’t end up in pro sports marketing by accident. Both Nate and Jenny trace their roots back to childhood passions, family ties, and the everyday hype of life.

Jenny’s Path

  • Music Industry Maven: 12 years as a music agent before Titans.
  • Marketing = Creating Experiences: Her secret sauce? Building authentic experiences that fans will never forget.

Nate’s Path

  • Family Business: Grew up with a dad who was a high school athletic director (“lots of hyping games—way before Twitter!”).
  • Saturday Morning Cartoons: Obsessed with commercials (“Yes, those Nerf ads worked on me!”).
  • Natural Marketer: Loved getting hands dirty in grassroots community efforts.

“Even as a kid, I was marketing without realizing it. From hyping games at my dad’s school to getting deep into kid culture and ads.” — Nate

What Makes a Great Marketer? Gut vs. Data (and a Little Bit of Magic)

Let’s be real—analytics matter, but intuition and authenticity are gold in marketing (and coaching football).

Gut + Data: Finding the Balance

  • Analytics give you the facts and trends.
  • Intuition gives you the magic.
  • Authenticity keeps your community connected and trusting.

“At the end of the day, the beautiful thing about being a person is your intuition. You take the analytics, make an educated decision, and go with your gut. That’s usually when the best stuff happens.” — Jenny

Case in Point: NFL Coaches

Some rely purely on gut (Mike Tomlin, anyone?), while others are all about the data. Great marketers, like smart coaches, know when to blend both.

How the Titans Use Data + Intuition

  • Business Intelligence Team: Supports gut decisions and improves strategy (new as of six months ago!).
  • Stats Meet Street Smarts: The Titans blend data from marketing events, socials, and ticket sales with old-fashioned relationship-building.
  • It’s Working: Early wins, innovative campaigns, and stronger connections.

The Titans Way: A Day in Our Shoes

Curious what it’s like to market an NFL team every day? No two days are the same.

Jenny

Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement

  • Events Galore: Both outside and inside the stadium, from block parties to special in-game moments.
  • Reaching New Audiences: Beyond traditional NFL fans, Jenny’s team is working hard to make every new Nashvillian feel welcome.
  • Research, Planning, Execution: Sifting through data, seeking the “crossroads” where the brand and fans collide, turning ideas into real moments.

Nate

Director of Social Media & Influencer Marketing

  • All Things Social: Manages everything from paid ads to organic content.
  • Influencer Relationships: Liaison with local celebs, music superstars, and (yes) WWE wrestlers.
  • Collaboration in Action: Just another day—walking across the facility to get a player to promote the new Kids Club Jenny is launching.

Merging Sports, Community, and Pop Culture: SummerSlam, WWE, and Beyond

Nashville isn’t just a football town. It’s a mega hub for music and entertainment, so crossovers are a must.

The WWE Connection

  • Seamus and Drew McIntyre: WWE superstars—and real-life Nashvillians—show up at games and bring their fandom with them.
  • SummerSlam at Nissan Stadium: The perfect marriage of Titans football, WWE hype, and Nashville’s community spirit.
  • Mutually Beneficial Content: Titans players in WWE content and WWE stars showing up at Titans events.

“It helps that we already planted those seeds with Seamus last year. Now fans expect to see WWE superstars in our content, and those relationships just keep growing.” — Nate

Ticket Sales, Paid Ads, & Epic Content

The strategy’s simple:

  • Push tickets through classic and digital advertising
  • Collaborate on exclusive content
  • Give fans as many reasons as possible to care—regardless if they’re a wrestling fan, football fan, or both

Nashville’s Boom: Challenges and Opportunities

Nashville’s exploding, and that’s changing everything—from who the fans are to how you reach them.

The Challenge

  • A Growing, Changing City: High influx of Millennials and Gen Z folks moving in every year.
  • Not Just Nashville: The Titans’ reach extends statewide and across the South.
  • Don’t Get Complacent: It’s tempting to just rely on the die-hard fans from ‘99, but the team strives to keep evolving.

How the Titans Adapt

“We don’t want to lean only on our traditional fanbase. We want to meet new people where they are, from the city to the suburbs—and even those who might just make us their second favorite team.” — Jenny

Growing a Younger, More Loyal Fanbase

One of the core questions every sports marketer faces:

How do you catch the eye (and heart) of someone new to town?

The Titans’ Playbook

  • Welcome Transplants: Even if the Titans become someone’s “second team”—that’s a start!
  • Generational Fandom: Focus on Kids Club initiatives and family events for Millennials raising families.
  • Community-Driven Causes: Appeal to Gen Z’s values and sense of purpose by spotlighting real impact and authentic stories.
  • Meet People Where They Are: From social feeds to unique events, it’s all about presence and accessibility.

Tradition, Fails, and Trying New Things

Let’s be real—not everything is a touchdown. Marketing is often trial and error.

Establishing Tradition

  • Still “the new kids”: The Titans moved from Houston in ‘99. Not a lot of deep-rooted, multi-generational rituals.
  • Creating New Touchstones: Sometimes you try to start a new tradition and “fans think it’s cheesy.” But, as Nate says, “every tradition started somewhere!”

When Things Don’t Land

  • Biggest Fail: Lack of interdepartmental communication, leading to fumbled campaigns or inconsistent experiences.
  • Learning Fast: Fan feedback (thanks, social media!) is instant—so you pivot, learn, and move forward.

“Our leadership calls us a ‘60-year startup.’ So there’s a TON of blank canvas here. We’re free to create—but have to make sure we don’t bite off more than we can chew.” — Jenny

Campaigns We Love & Why They Worked

Let’s talk wins! Both team members brought their own style and experience to the table.

Jenny’s Style: Grassroots, Easter Eggs, and Authentic Fan Experiences

  • Grassroots Marketing: Tap deep into community and departmental collaboration.
  • Easter Egg Campaigns: Place surprises in the community (“I love making fans get a little rabid to participate!”).
  • Brand Consistency: Live events must feel authentic—just like dealing with music artists who demand consistency.

Nate’s Favorite: Painting the Barns

  • Rock City Partnership: Recreated an old Tennessee roadside tradition by painting Titans-branded barns statewide.
  • Physical, Not Digital: Sometimes, the offline stuff hits home even more—especially for rural fans who don’t make it to Nashville.
  • Community Feel-Good: Highlighted local artists and built bridges with long-time Tennessee staples.

“We have a great org willing to take risks. This mural campaign just felt right—helped us support a community staple, give back, and try something different.” — Nate

Old School Meets New School: Offline Marketing & Murals

In today’s all-digital world, the Titans don’t shy away from going old school to make a splash.

  • Offline Matters: Murals, physical barn paintings, and local partnerships can make a bigger impression than another online ad.
  • Supporting Local Artists: Paid a muralist to create cool, lasting artwork in places that usually don’t get enough love.
  • Blending with Social: Brought it back online by posting on socials, documentary-style stories, and shoutouts.

Unlimited Budget? Here’s What We’d Do

Let’s daydream for a minute: what if the Titans got a blank check for marketing?

Nate’s Dream: Go Experiential, Go Big

“I’d love to do something like Stranger Things—their massive immersive launches around the world. Picture launching a Titans AR/VR experience at major cities, making people FEEL the Titans story.”

  • Pop-Ups Nationwide: AR, VR, and in-person installations in Nashville, Houston, Mexico City, London, and more.
  • Memorable Moments: Go big, shoot for unforgettable.

Jenny’s Dream: Exclusive, Immersive, Unforgettable

“I love those once-in-a-lifetime brand experiences. Think Spotify’s ‘Harry’s House’—super exclusive, totally immersive, all-in on the Titans.”

  • Cultivate Magic: Events fans talk about forever.
  • Community: Always tie it back—either by rewarding loyal fans or making new ones feel welcome.

“You create that FOMO—if you missed it, you wish you were there. The people who were there feel seen, special, a part of something bigger.”

NFTs, Tech, and the Future of Fan Experiences

Digital tickets are cool, but physical stubs are nostalgic—and fans want souvenirs. What’s the middle ground?

  • NFT Tickets: Digital mementos for every game (yes, you can “collect” them!)
  • Highlight Reels as NFTs: Imagine owning that legendary Derrick Henry touchdown as a digital collectible.
  • NFL’s Cautious Rollout: League rules slow things down, but change is in the air.
  • Inspiration from NBA Top Shot: Art, highlights, and trading—digital fandom is here to stay.

Our Best Under-$100 Purchases (That Help Us Win the Day)

Sometimes, the little things in life make all the difference.

Jenny’s Fav: Amazon Ice Roller

  • Price: Under $10
  • Why?: “It’s just a delight—cures headaches, wakes you up, quick refresh. Couldn’t do without it!”

Nate’s Go-To: Streaming Services

  • Why?: “Everything’s pulling inspiration from shows—Stranger Things, Better Call Saul, Severance. Not just fun, but makes for great creative brainstorming.”

Host Pick: “Ready Player One” (the Book)

  • Why?: “Gives crazy ideas for the metaverse, NFTs, and how fandom will evolve in digital spaces.”

Wrap-Up: What It’s Really All About

As we wrap up, a few key takeaways shine through:

  • Marketing in pro sports is about connecting people, not just selling tickets.
  • True community is built both in person and online.
  • New traditions aren’t easy, but they’re worth it.
  • The best fan experiences are immersive, authentic, and a little bit magical.
  • You don’t always need a massive budget. Sometimes it’s the personal touch or passion for pop culture that makes all the difference.

“We just want people to walk away and say: I had to be there. I felt welcomed. Like I was part of the family.” — Jenny

Whether you’re planning your next campaign, cheering in the stands, or looking for inspiration in your industry—the Titans’ journey is proof that passion, creativity, and a sense of fun can turn any fan into family.

Thanks for reading, and a huge shoutout to Jenny and Nate for keeping the Titans brand alive, fresh, and authentic—on the field, in the city, and all over our feeds.

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