The 5th annual Music City Blitz took place on May 01, 2022. This official five-on-five 5 flag football tournament is played over the course of one day on the Nissan Stadium field that is usually reserved for the NFL Titans. Thus, the Music City Blitz incorporates the slogan "Play Where The Pros Play" to generate interest and participation in the event. Divisions are available in Competitive (Top Gun), Recreational, Co-ed, 35 and Over, and Battle of the Badges. The weather was picture perfect for this always fun fundraiser for Special Olympics Tennessee.

Team captains received this sweet looking Music City Blitz football for their efforts.

Music City Blitz is an Adult Flag Football Tournament where teams from the Nashville (TN) region get the opportunity to play on a professional football field. Participants receive tangible benefits from this unique experience and money raised from the event goes to Special Olympics of Tennessee. Some of the perks include team introductions as they enter the field through Nissan Stadium's PA, replays, photo opps, locker room tours, food and fun.

At 9:30 am the 22 participating clubs were announced as they ran through a pair of Titan swords for team photos. Some squads had threatening names such as the Suicide Squad. Others represented first responders and one group of officers had a sense of humor calling themselves the MP Donuts with matching uniforms featuring the sweet treat.

Teams ran through the Titan Tunnel before playing where the pros play.

The first match showcased athletes from Special Olympics. This lineup was mentored by Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel along with retired NFL players Jared Allen, Marc Bulger and former Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Cassel who served as guest celebrity coaches for the Special Olympics athlete exhibition game.

Friends and family could watch their teams on the field and on the big screens. Throughout the day four different games took place at once so it was a bit of a circus like atmosphere. But, players take the competition seriously doing their best to score touchdowns and these battles ran for much of the day.

This Special Olympic athlete showed particularly good form.

We found out that Nissan Stadium in partnership with the Tennessee Titans is one of four NFL venues that host this type of win-win fund-raiser via competitive flag football. In fact, a representative from Music City Blitz told us that a long term goal is to have the winners from each city face off against each other in a "Super Bowl" type championship at some point in the future.

In addition to athletes and supporting businesses raising money, volunteers gave of their time to help the event run smoothly. With so much bad news in the world it is always inspiring to see how many caring people come together under the banner of a good cause.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel was an enthusiastic mentor on his home turf.

All proceeds raised by Music City Blitz benefit Special Olympics Tennessee athletes and helps foster their mission of providing year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Congratulations to all the participants including the champions in their respective categories - Top Gun Division: Finalist - The Replacements; Champion - Mean Machine > Battle of the Badges Division: Finalist - MNP Donut Squad; Champion - Front Line Heroes > Co-ed Division: Finalist - Suicide Squad, Champion - Mean Machine Co-ed. This year's event raised $20,000 for the cause and plans are already underway for the 6th Annual Music City Blitz in Music City.

Now is the time to start game planning your squad for next year's Music City Blitz.

Related Links: For more information on MUSIC CITY BLITZ and the other organizations mentioned please visit the following links - Music City Blitz | Music City Blitz - Report From 2021