“My family is everything”: How Jeremiah Telander’s family values carry him on, off the field
by Sarah Portanka
Steve Telander knew his son would be a linebacker.
While some kids hear stories of their first words, Tennessee senior linebacker Jeremiah Telander recalls stories of his first tackling techniques.
As soon as I was born, they're doing whatever, and then I grab cloth — I grabbed the towel off a thing — and … my dad's like, ‘He grabbed cloth. He’s going to be a linebacker.’ Then he’s messing around, putting me in a linebacker stance or whatnot. It's a funny story.Jeremiah Telander
Steve Telander coached college football for 16 years, serving as a defensive line coach at his alma mater, the University of Massachusetts, an outside linebackers coach at the University of Texas-El Paso and Missouri, and an inside linebackers coach at Bowling Green.
While many of his best friends and closest colleagues went on to become NFL coaches, Steve Telander got out of coaching to start his family of four.
But it wasn’t long before Steve Telander had a new coaching gig. Only this time, it was his son’s 5-year-old Little League team instead of 230-pound collegiate linebackers.
“We're going to make sure that no matter what happens, you can play football at the next level if you want to,” Steve Telander said to his son.
Steve Telander let go of coaching his son when Jeremiah Telander got into middle and high school football.
“He never wanted to be the dad that overstepped,” Jeremiah Telander said. “I respect him for that a lot.”
Instead, Steve Telander became everything his son needed off the field.
“After a game, after a practice, I’d always go home. He’d make me a big dinner, and we'd sit down and watch film,” Jeremiah Telander said. “Some nights I wouldn't want to do it, but I still did. Now looking back at that, I'm just so happy that I did.”
At North Hall and Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Georgia, Jeremiah Telander played every snap of the game — from defense to offense to special teams. But deep down, he knew his roots.
I always wanted to be a linebacker. I feel like the position of linebacker runs through my veins.Jeremiah Telander
In 2021, Jeremiah and Steve Telander arrived in Knoxville for a camp. What Jeremiah Telander expected to be a regular camp quickly became a pivotal life moment.
“I really didn't think anything of it,” Jeremiah Telander said. “I had a great camp, and then one of the coaches told me and my dad that Coach Heupel would like to speak to me in his office. As a 16-year-old, you're like, ‘Holy cow, what is about to happen?’”
At that moment, Jeremiah Telander received his first collegiate offer: a full-ride athletic scholarship to the University of Tennessee.
“I can still remember that moment right now. It means the world to me, especially my dad being by my side.”
More than five years later, Telander has turned that opportunity into a Tennessee career defined by consistency, production and leadership. He has played in 41 games with 23 starts, recording 168 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries, four pass breakups and two interceptions.
His impact extends beyond the stat sheet. Telander was selected by his teammates to Tennessee football’s leadership council for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons, a reflection of the trust he has earned from those around him.
Family has been a constant in every decision, challenge and milestone of Jeremiah Telander's life.
“I talk about my dad a lot, but also my mom,” Jeremiah Telander said. “She really raised me on the other aspect of how to be a good man. Obviously, my dad did as well, but she taught me how to be kind and how to be a gentleman. We say I get the athleticism from my dad and the sweetness from my mom.”
Crossing state lines nearly every other Saturday, Angela Telander has always been her son's biggest fan, both on and off the field.
“I love her to death, and she's been my biggest supporter ever,” Jeremiah Telander said. “She gets all these sleeves and puts my number and “JT” on it. So, after a home game whenever we sign autographs, she's right there on my hip just passing out these sleeves. It turns out people really like it, so I'm just so thankful for her. She thinks of the little things.”
Like in any family, life isn’t easy. But for the Telander family, it’s always been easy to show up for one another.
“My family is everything to me,” Jeremiah Telander said. “We stick together just because it’s just us four. My parents got separated when I was super young, but the thing about them is they're still best friends, and that can't be easy. For them to put their pride aside and put the kids first means the world to me.”
Steve and Angela Telander support their son together. They remind Jeremiah Telander that no matter how big a problem may seem, nothing is bigger than family.
I respect (my parents) for that so much. They always taught me to be extremely humble and put others before yourself, so that's something that I live by … I owe the world to them.
As Jeremiah Telander embarks on his senior year with Tennessee football, the values in his heart guide him on the field. He leads with humility and selflessness for his family of Volunteers.