Mike Organ

morgan@tennessean.com

NFL Network broadcasters Charles Davis and Dan Hellie will replace WKRN-2 sports director Cory Curtis and former Titans running back Eddie George for the Titans preseason games this season.

Hellie, a 1997 University of Tennessee graduate, will handle the play-by-play and Davis, a four-year starting defensive back (1983-86) at UT, will be the analyst.

George is stepping away so that he can follow his son, Jaire, who will be a freshman on the Vanderbilt football team this season and also to focus on his acting career.

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Curtis, who declined to comment, will continue to serve as host of Titans coach Mike Mularkey's television show.

Davis, a specialist on the NFL draft, served as a game analyst for Atlanta Falcons preseason broadcasts last year.

"It's a great fit for me," Davis said. "I consider myself pretty fortunate obviously having been born in the state (Elizabethton), played in the state in college and I'm back doing NFL football in the state. Fortunately for me (the Titans) had an opening because Eddie is busy with his Broadway career and other things and I'm so happy and proud of him — he's just such a versatile and credible guy that I consider myself really lucky that I could fill in for Eddie George. It's pretty cool."

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The Titans began looking for a new broadcast team after George told them he would not have the time to work the games this season. George will continue to work with the Titans on special media projects.

“Teams across the league have moved toward adding national NFL voices for their preseason games as a way of replicating what our fans see on a weekly basis during the regular season," said Titans chief revenue officer Stuart Spears. "As graduates of the University of Tennessee, both Dan and Charles understand the passion for football in our region and have a deep knowledge of the NFL. They both will be spending time in Nashville to get to know the team on a more personal level and we hope our fans will enjoy their insight during the broadcasts."

The 2016 season will be Davis' second with the NFL Network. He also called NFL games for Fox in 2009 and 2010.

"Last year was just such a difficult year for (the Titans) in so many different ways when you have the losing streak and have to replace your coach (Ken Whisenhunt) at midseason," Davis said. "Even though you had the quarterback (Marcus Mariota) that you were able to pick at the top of the draft at No. 2, he kept getting battered around and getting hurt. But now with what Jon Robinson has done as the GM and Mike Mularkey firmly entrenched as the head coach it feels like everyone is in lockstep — ownership to GM to head coach down to team."

Along with the NFL Network and Fox, Davis has served as a college football, basketball and baseball analyst for ESPN, CBS, NBC, TBS and TNT.

Hellie has been with the NFL Network since 2013, when he started as anchor of “NFL Total Access.”

WKRN-2 has served as the flagship station for Titans preseason games since the franchise arrived in Nashville.

The Titans' first two preseason games — Aug. 13 at home against San Diego and Aug. 20 at home against Carolina — will be on WKRN-2.

The third game — Aug. 27 at Oakland — will be broadcast by CBS (WTVF-5 locally) and the last — Sept. 1 at Miami — will be on WKRN-2.

Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.