NFL Cornerback Caleb Farley’s Father Perishes in North Carolina House Blast

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Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley’s father passed away in an overnight explosion that demolished the NFL athlete’s home in North Carolina, resulting in one additional injury, authorities announced on Tuesday.

61-year-old Robert M. Farley was discovered deceased amid the rubble of the house in Mooresville on Tuesday morning, according to Kent Greene, the head of Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management.

First responders reached the scene a short time after midnight on Tuesday, where they discovered Christian Rogers, 25, leaving the wrecked structure. Greene identified Rogers as a family friend, who was subsequently taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, treated for a concussion, and described as conscious and responsive, though he has yet to be released.

Investigators are probing the explosion’s origin, but Greene postulated that gas could have built up over an extended duration and likely came into contact with something that ignited it. Local authorities consider the blast, which began in a bedroom and spared nearby properties, to have been accidental.

Situated near Lake Norman, some 28 miles (45 kilometers) to the north of Charlotte, the property occupies a substantial plot of land and is valued for tax purposes at nearly $2 million, according to county records.

On Tuesday, the front yard displayed evidence of the destruction with insulation hanging from trees, and items including a king-size mattress and a shattered coffee mug inscribed with “Virginia Tech dad” strewn about the lawn. Wooden debris and window frames were propelled as far as 50 yards (45 meters) from the explosion’s epicenter.

Greene expressed his astonishment that anyone could have survived the explosion, especially considering the home’s size of 6,300 square feet, with only remnants of the garage remaining.

Property documents identify Caleb Farley, a native of nearby Maiden, as the house’s owner. Though absent during the explosion, he was present at the scene on Tuesday, said Greene.

The news of Farley’s loss was conveyed to the Titans by coach Mike Vrabel during a practice session in Nashville, with the players subsequently kneeling in what appeared to be a gesture of prayer. Vrabel assured that the team would provide Farley with all necessary support.

Caleb Farley, drafted 22nd overall in 2021, had been designated as physically unable to perform after being placed on injured reserve last November due to a back problem. He played 12 games in his initial two seasons and opted out of the 2020 season in college due to the coronavirus pandemic, having lost his mother to cancer in 2018.

Teammate Kevin Byard, who also lost his mother in June 2022, encouraged Farley to rely on his faith. He acknowledged Farley’s history of overcoming adversity, expressing the team’s collective intention to support him.

Laura Wild, a nearby resident, recounted hearing the explosion but mistook it for thunder, and did not inspect the situation until the next morning, describing the scene as terrible. She admitted she was not well-acquainted with the Farleys.

The exact point of the explosion’s origin, along with any potential liabilities, remains undetermined, according to Greene. The gas meter that monitors fuel gas flow to neighboring homes has been isolated and is no longer considered a threat.

Dominion Energy’s spokesperson, Bonita Billingsley Harris, confirmed via email that the company was among the first responders on the scene, actively cooperating with the investigators.

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Reporting from Nashville, Tenn., was provided by Walker, and Schoenbaum contributed from Raleigh.

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• Tennessee Titans Official Website
• Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management
• Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center
• Dominion Energy Official Website
• Virginia Tech Football Program
• NFL Official Website