Explosion at home of Titans' Caleb Farley caused by natural gas, investigators say
Authorities noticed smell of natural gas when they arrived at scene
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Fire investigators have determined that a natural gas explosion destroyed NFL player Caleb Farley‘s suburban Charlotte home in North Carolina, officials confirmed Tuesday. The explosion killed Caleb's father, Robert, and left another person with non-life-threatening injuries.
Investigators said there was a strong smell of natural gas once they arrived at the home in Mooresville, North Carolina. The house is located about 25 miles from the Tennessee Titans cornerback's hometown of Maiden, North Carolina.
The origin of the gas leak remains unclear due to the remaining structure, officials said in a news release.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office concluded its investigation into the explosion, and any further investigation will be conducted by the owner’s insurance company.
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Debris from a house explosion can be seen in Mooresville, North Carolina, on Aug. 22, 2023. Robert Farley, father of Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley, died in the explosion that destroyed the NFL player's home and left another person injured. (AP Photo/Steve Reed)
Robert was found in the debris of the home on Aug. 22. He was 61.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Christian Rogers, who was described as a family friend, was taken to a local hospital and was diagnosed with a concussion, an Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management spokesperson said.
TITANS' CALEB FARLEY BREAKS SILENCE AFTER DAD DIES IN NORTH CAROLINA HOME EXPLOSION
Caleb, who was in Nashville, Tennessee, at the time of the explosion, told Charlotte news station WCNC that a neighbor called him after the explosion and that he quickly made travel arrangements to return to North Carolina.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He paid tribute to his father in an emotional social media post last week.
"Daddy you a legend," he wrote alongside one clip of a man giving a speech.
"I love you [for life]," Caleb wrote in an Instagram Story post that showed several dozen people at a memorial for his father.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Caleb Farley (Cliff Welch / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images / File)
Robert was on a video call at the time of the blast.
The person on the other end of the call first believed Farley had dropped the phone, and he was unable to get back in touch with Robert, Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management Director Kent Greene said.
Caleb Farley of the Tennessee Titans warms up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 2, 2022, in Indianapolis. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Authorities had previously ruled the blast accidental. Neighboring homes did not appear to suffer any significant damage.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}County property records list the tax value of the home on a large plot near Lake Norman as nearly $2 million.
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Caleb Farley was the No. 22 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}He was placed on injured reserve in November with a back issue. He has played 12 games in his first two seasons and is currently on the Titans PUP (physically unable to perform) list.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.