Officials say the North Carolina home owned by Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley that exploded last week was caused by a natural gas leak.
The point of origin for the explosion, which killed his father Robert Farley and injured a second person, remains unknown, according to Iredell County Fire Services Director Kent Greene.
Further investigation into the explosion stopped due the instability of the remaining structure, Greene said. He added last week all that was left of the structure was a garage wall.
Further investigation will be conducted by Farley’s insurance provider.
Christian Rogers, Robert Farley’s friend who was also in the home at the time of the explosion, was injured and transported to a Charlotte hospital. Greene said the 25-year-old was released a day later.
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Though Greene said the origin of the leak remains a mystery, he said Aug. 22 due to the devastation, he believed the gas had been building and finally found an ignition source.
First responders arrived at the home in Mooresville, North Carolina, after a report of an explosion last Monday around midnight, officials said.
Greene said the 6,391-square-foot home is total loss.
Tennessee Titans support Caleb Farley
Following the explosion, Caleb Farley returned to his North Carolina home. Greene said he and his family were devastated.
The Titans community took to social media to support him.
“Just praying for Caleb,” Titans running back Derrick Henry said last week after hearing the news. “We were probably the last ones in the locker room last night just hanging around. We just found out the news. My prayers go out to him and his family.”
Farley, a native of Maiden, North Carolina, purchased the four-bedroom, four-bath home in 2022 for $2.05 million, according to property records.
“I think what’s important is we do everything we can to support Caleb and his family and do everything we can to be there for them, support them,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said last week during a post-practice press conference. “I think that’s the most important thing … is to focus on him and not anything else.
Who was Robert Farley?
Robert met his future wife, Robin at Maiden High School, according to a 2018 ESPN story. He came to call his wife “lovely,” because she had so much love for her family.
From a young age, Robert said Caleb was determined, always moving. The family built a legacy of athleticism, with Robert, owner of Superior Barber Styling Center running track at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina. Caleb’s brother Josh ran track at Appalachian State.
When Caleb told his father he wanted to play in the NFL, Robert challenged his son to want it bad enough.
That message stuck with Caleb as he did everything he could to earn playing time as an undersized junior varsity quarterback at Maiden High School.
“He wasn’t even 2 or 3 years old when I told my wife he was determined to make a mark somehow,” Robert Farley told NFL.com. “I told her I hoped it would be positive more than negative, but I knew he was going to leave a mark on this world in some kind of way. And it wouldn’t be a small mark. He was going to be known.”
Caleb Farley’s mom died in 2018
Caleb Farley’s mother, Robin Farley, died from breast cancer in 2018.
Robin was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and endured two years of chemotherapy and radiation. For a while it looked like she had beaten the disease. But the cancer returned aggressively and invaded her bones.
“After some time it started to wear on her,” Caleb’s father, Robert Farley, told the Nashville Tennessean in 2021. “I think Caleb accepted what happened because he knew that his mother had faithfully lived the life she wanted to live. She didn’t die in regret.”
Caleb said his mother always believed in him even at a young age.
“I was telling my mother I was going to be a first-round draft pick when I was like 7 years old,” he said. “I hope she’s smiling down on me from the sky.”
Reach reporter Craig Shoup by email at cshoup@gannett.com and on X @Craig_Shoup. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to www.tennessean.com.
