WATCH: Malik Willis responds to Ryan Tanehill's comments on mentorship

Tennessee Titans veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill caused quite a stir when he made a comment about mentoring rookie quarterback Malik Willis. After the Titans selected the former Liberty quarterback in the 2022 NFL Draft, Tannehill commented on his role in the development of Willis, or lack thereof. And while some around the league took exception to what the veteran quarterback said, the rookie appears to be okay with it.

The crew over at the NFL on ESPN caught up with Willis while he was at the Titans practice facility, and the rookie quarterback shared his thoughts on Tannehill’s comments.

“I didn’t even know it was nothing until people started talking about it,” said Willis. “…He told me that it was just like he wants me to know that we’re trying to compete. It’s not more or less he’s just above me off the rip in the hierarchy. I mean of course he has been in the league nine years; he’s a vet.

“But he was just letting me know that we’re on even playing fields. Like I can learn from him, yeah for sure. But coach Todd and coach Pat, they gonna be the one that’s gonna be help me get right.”

Malik Willis spoke about Ryan Tannehill's comments on not having to be Willis' mentor.

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— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 13, 2022

Mike Tomlin gives thoughts on Ryan Tannehill comments, role of veteran QBs in player development

Mike Tomlin is on Ryan Tannehill’s side after the Titans quarterback claimed last week it isn’t his job to mentor rookie Malik Willis. The Pittsburgh Steelers coach made an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show this weekend, where he was asked about Tannehill’s stance on serving as a mentor for Willis this season and whether that should even be expected of veteran quarterbacks.

“It’s good when it occurs, but it’s certainly not necessary,” Tomlin said. “That’s why we have offensive coordinators, quarterback coaches, assistant quarterback coaches. People who are employed and their sole focus is the development of players. Certainly there’s growth and development opportunities and learning opportunities among players, but it is definitely not their function. Their function is to have themselves ready to go and be good teammates. That’s probably what you speak to just in terms of providing common human decency and courtesy to someone if you can help them along the way. I’m sure Ryan is open to that. I think he was just stating the obvious. He’s not employed to do that. He’s employed to play quarterback.”

Tannehill received plenty of flack after stating in a recent interview that he wasn’t required to mentor Willis, who was drafted No. 86 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Players around the league were split in their opinion on Tannehill’s comments, with some calling it bad leadership and others pointing to the fact he has a starting job to protect.