Terrell Owens returns home to inspire, engage and fill Finley Stadium

When Pro Football Hall of Famer and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga alumnus Terrell Owens walks across campus, he still feels at home.

Owens, who first made his mark on Chamberlain Field as a wide receiver in the 1990s, returned to Chattanooga for UTC’s 2025 Homecoming Week from Oct. 27 to Nov. 1—a celebration of pride, purpose and community that stretched far beyond the football field.

This year, Owens partnered with UTC’s Division of Access and Engagement to launch one of the week’s most meaningful initiatives: a 500-ticket giveaway providing Hamilton County Schools students, teachers and families with free admission to Saturday’s Homecoming football game against Western Carolina at Finley Stadium.

The collaboration reflects UTC’s ongoing commitment to open its doors wider to the community. For Owens, it was about rekindling the hometown connection that shaped his journey.

“I’ve been around the country and seen packed stadiums at places like Alabama and Colorado,” Owens said at one of his many stops during the week. “I want to see Finley Stadium the same way—filled with our students, families and fans from across Chattanooga. That’s what Homecoming should feel like.”

Owens’ return wasn’t a brief cameo: it was a five-day celebration of mentorship, motivation and Moc spirit, coordinated in partnership with Vice Chancellor for Access and Engagement Stacy Lightfoot and her team.

A week of engagement and inspiration

Last Monday, Owens kicked things off with a pickleball session at the Boys & Girls Club of Highland Park, encouraging young players to stay active and dream big. Later that evening, he joined students in the Gary W. Rollins College of Business for a conversation hosted by the Urban Vision Initiative, where they discussed entrepreneurship and perseverance.

Tuesday brought Owens back to the UTC campus, where he gave golf cart rides and mingled with students on Chamberlain Field before joining the crowd for the Boo & Gold Halloween event in McKenzie Arena. Fans were delighted to see the Hall of Famer dressed as Spider-Man, laughing and posing for photos with student-athletes and families.

But it was Wednesday’s visits to Hixson Middle and High Schools that best captured the purpose behind his trip. Owens spoke to more than 1,500 Hamilton County students, urging them to “be authentic, stay focused and never stop believing in yourself.”

“You’re looking at someone who came from right here in Chattanooga and made it to the Hall of Fame,” he told students. “But what matters most is how you use your gifts to lift others.”

Owens later sat down with Chancellor Lori Bruce for an interview in her office, reflecting on his student-athlete experience and the importance of giving back. That evening, Owens joined UTC’s Division of Advancement, alums and community members at Party Bites event space in the Camp House building that included a lively night of reconnecting, storytelling and Mocs pride.

From the locker room to the lecture hall

By Thursday, Owens’ calendar was as full as Finley Stadium on game day. He began the morning courtside, making guest appearances at both the UTC women’s and men’s basketball practices at the Chattem Practice Facility, where he encouraged student-athletes to stay focused, disciplined and passionate about their goals. That afternoon, he visited Tyner Middle and High School, meeting with football players and coaches to talk about leadership, perseverance and character on and off the field. He also stopped by the Chattanooga Area Food Bank and Scrappy’s Cupboard on campus to learn more about how food insecurity affects local students and families —underscoring his commitment to giving back where it matters most. Later that evening, Owens made a special guest appearance and presentation at the NAACP Ruby Hurley Awards, where former UTC Professor of Practice and American Idol Season 2 winner, Ruben Studdard, headlined as the evening’s entertainment.

Friday morning, Owens joined business and civic leaders for a brunch and conversation hosted by Access and Engagement at EPB, where he discussed his post-football ventures and his desire to help build bridges between UTC and the Chattanooga community.

That afternoon, he appeared alongside fellow UTC alum and author Marty McDonald at the “Audacious” Book Launch and Leadership Conversation in the UTC Library Roth Reading Room—sharing the stage with Rollins Scholars and UT System guests to talk about boldness, purpose and legacy.

Homecoming Saturday: 500 reasons to celebrate

By Saturday morning, the partnership between Owens and Access and Engagement—in collaboration with Hamilton County Schools and Superintendent Justin Robertson—had come to life. Outside Finley Stadium, UTC volunteers welcomed families as 1,000 complimentary game tickets were made available through the initiative, inviting more local residents to experience the pride of blue and gold, many for the very first time.

Building a lasting legacy

For Owens, UTC isn’t just his alma mater—it’s the community that helped shape his foundation and continues to be part of his purpose. He’s proud that the student body has doubled since his days as a Moc and even prouder that the University’s reach now extends into every neighborhood of Chattanooga.

“Terrell shows incredible vulnerability and passion in every interaction,” Lightfoot said. “Whatever the narrative once was, what’s clear now is the humanitarian and philanthropist he’s become. Chattanooga will always be part of that story—helping him share his ‘why’ and continue a legacy built on giving back.”

From classrooms to courts, from pep rallies to packed stands, Owens’ return reminded everyone that Chattanooga isn’t just where his story began—it’s where he continues to write it, with purpose and heart.

And as the Mocs took the field against Western Carolina, surrounded by hundreds of new fans from across Hamilton County, it was clear that this Homecoming wasn’t just a return. It was a reunion, a celebration and a promise to keep Finley Stadium—and the spirit of Chattanooga—full for years to come.