NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When people think of the Tennessee Titans, their minds often go straight to the players on the field. However, behind every game day is a team of professionals working year-round to keep the organization running, especially in times of growth and transition. One of those people is Art Wood, formerly known as James McArthur Wood Jr., who now serves as Manager of Talent Acquisition for the Tennessee Titans.
Wood’s career path is anything but linear. It spans college mascot tryouts, Chick-fil-A cashier shifts, large-scale hiring events, graduate school, and now one of the most sought-after talent leadership roles in professional sports. His story is one many can relate to, especially in the current Nashville job market. If you need a career-pick-me-up, this one is for you.
Alabama Mascot…We Forgive Him
Despite growing up in Auburn, Wood enrolled at the University of Alabama in 2014, entering Tuscaloosa at a time when Crimson Tide football dominated the national conversation. Like many students, he initially followed the traditional SEC college experience, but had a major role on game days.
Wood’s path to the NFL ironically began around the world of college football. During his college years at the University of Alabama, Wood spent time inside one of the most recognizable costumes on the field, Big Al, the team’s mascot.
“I had a friend who was currently the mascot and he was like, ‘Hey, we’re having tryouts. You should so try out,’” Wood said. “‘I didn’t really see that going anywhere.’”
Wood became the University of Alabama’s mascot, a role that demanded physical endurance, discipline, and an ability to connect with people without ever speaking a word.
“It was super fun and super exciting,” Wood said. “I did a lot of the home games, did a lot of alumni events and birthday parties.”
What many fans don’t realize is just how intense mascot life can be, especially in the southern heat.
“Your metabolism is on overload,” Wood said. “And the good thing is if you ever want to drop water weight, just put on a mascot suit and you’ll slim down real quick.”
The physical toll was especially brutal during Alabama football season.
“We have games that on record hit 102 [degrees] and you’re in a suit and it’s a doozy,” he said.
Yet, despite the heat, exhaustion, and strict time limits inside the costume, Wood found meaning in the role, especially when it came to community engagement.
During his time as Big Al, Wood attended a Special Olympics event, an appearance that left a lasting, emotional impact on him.
“One of the dads was like, ‘Hey, can you get a photo with my son,’” Wood recalled. The boy was in an electric wheelchair, had limited mobility, and was nonverbal, communicating through writing.
When the photo was taken, the moment felt simple, until the father tracked Wood down afterward.
“He’s like, ‘I just want you to know that’s the first time we’ve seen a smile on our son’s face in years.’”
That moment stuck with him for years to come.
“I just lost it,” he said. “I was like, ‘I got to get out of this suit. I got to go home, I’m crying in the suit.’”
Wood served as Big Al for one season, ultimately stepping away to focus on graduating and preparing for life after college.
“It’s the coolest thing to put on your resume,” Wood said.
Career Moves, Not So Smooth
Wood graduated from the University of Alabama in 2018 with a degree in business management, leaving Tuscaloosa equipped not only with academic credentials, but also with firsthand experience in teamwork, visibility, and performing under pressure.
Those lessons would soon be tested in the real world.
“I was under the impression that I deserved a job based off having a four-year degree, the world owes me a job,” Wood said.
But that is sadly not the case for many who just walked that big stage.
Through job applications and other ways to remain in his field, Wood tried to grow on the corporate ladder, until he hit a wall.
Instead, after a short contracting role, Wood found himself working as a cashier at Chick-fil-A.
“At the time I resented my life and I was so cocky,” Wood said. “Why am I standing here having a 15-year-old train me on how to use a cash register when I have a four-year degree?”
The frustration set in but so did the humility required to show up each day. Yet, what initially felt like a professional setback would quietly become one of the most formative experiences of his career.
“I hated it,” he admitted. “But looking back on it now, it’s crucial that I did that.”
Rather than treating the role as temporary or beneath him, Wood leaned into the work. Over time, he earned the trust of leadership and was promoted into a talent manager role, overseeing recruiting for that Chick-fil-A location. The position allowed him to apply the very skills he had studied in college including hiring, training, communication and leadership.
It was Chick-fil-A on his résumé that caught the attention of a hiring manager at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, prompting Wood’s move to Music City in November 2019.
Not thinking his time at a fast-food chain would have any influence, he was pleasantly surprised when the hiring manager at Gaylord Opryland reached out to him.
“He said one of the big reasons he called me was because he saw Chick-fil-A on my resume,” Wood recalled. “That was kind of the aha moment.”
What Wood had once viewed as a professional low point was evidence of resilience, work ethic, and adaptability.
The job offer prompted Wood’s move to Nashville. He stepped into a demanding HR role at one of the city’s largest hospitality properties, Ryman, responsible for high-volume hourly recruiting.
“They really threw me into high water,” he said. “And it was a sink or swim.”
But Wood swam, armed with lessons learned behind a Chick-fil-A register.
Today, as Manager of Talent Acquisition for the Tennessee Titans, Wood often reflects on that chapter of his life when speaking with students, job seekers, and professionals navigating uncertain career paths.
Sometimes it ultimately can become the very thing that can unlock what’s next.
Building a Titan’s Team
While fans experience the Tennessee Titans primarily on Sundays, the organization operates year-round behind the scenes, and much of that work begins with people. As Manager of Talent Acquisition, Art Wood is responsible for helping shape the workforce that supports the franchise, from operations and events to long-term growth tied to the team’s future.
“Off season is usually HR’s busiest time,” Wood said.
With the Titans preparing for the construction of a new stadium, Wood says the work extends far beyond filling immediate roles. His focus is strategic, requiring careful planning and foresight to ensure the organization is staffed not just for today, but for years ahead.
In an increasingly competitive job market, Wood says hiring decisions aren’t driven solely by résumés or credentials. Instead, he places heavy emphasis on interpersonal skills, traits that can’t be learned overnight.
“I think a lot of qualities I look for in candidates are soft skills,” Wood said.
Those skills include communication, awareness, and the ability to engage with others authentically. “The ability to to look people in the eye, to have handshakes, to be off their phone,” he said.
Wood believes that strong organizations are built through relationships, not just applications submitted online.
“Any relationship that you build, you’ll never know where it’s going to go,” he said.
That philosophy has directly influenced hiring decisions within the Titans organization.
“We hired somebody here because he met somebody in a grocery store, just sparked up a conversation,” Wood said. “They asked, ‘What do you do for work?’”
For Wood, opportunity often comes to those who are prepared to “network.”
Rather than focusing on prestige or perfection, he looks for effort, consistency, and growth in college years. “I care that you do something to build your resume.”
Encouragement for Those Facing Job Rejections
With job seekers facing rejections and prolonged searches, Wood acknowledges how discouraging the process can feel, especially in competitive cities like Nashville.
“I know it’s hard,” he said. “I say keep on trying.”
Drawing from his own experience, Wood emphasizes that survival sometimes requires short-term sacrifices.
“If you get into a situation where I was where you can’t find a job and you’re borderline not being able to pay for rent, sometimes you have to do what you have to do,” he said.
That work may not align perfectly with long-term goals, but Wood believes persistence matters more than perfection.
“It may not be in the field you want it to be in. It may not be the dream job,” he said. What matters most is momentum. “Keep putting forth effort, keep trying, don’t get discouraged,” Wood said. “I’m a firm believer that everything will work out in the end.”
Those lessons, shaped by his own journey, guide how he evaluates candidates and how he contributes to one of Nashville’s most prominent sports organizations. “If you make a good connection and they are impressed with who you are and they want you, they will do what it takes to get you,” Wood said.
Finding Balance Through Fitness:
In a demanding role that requires constant decision-making and being quick on your feet, Wood understands the importance of maintaining balance outside the office. His workdays are often fast-paced and high-pressure. For Wood, staying active isn’t just about physical fitness, it’s a critical part of managing stress, building community, and maintaining mental clarity.
“When I first moved here, Nashville, what they don’t tell you is very hard to make friends,” Wood said.
Like many transplants to the city, Wood initially struggled to find a sense of connection. He sought out opportunities to engage with others through movement and shared experiences. That search led him to recreational sports.
“I joined a volleyball intramural league and made some of my lifelong friends that I will have forever now,” he said.
From indoor courts to grass and sand leagues, Wood rotates his activities with the seasons.
In addition to volleyball, Wood maintains a structured gym routine that supports both performance and recovery. He currently works out at TruFit and Crunch Fitness, each serving a different purpose in his overall wellness plan.
Wood’s fitness goals extend beyond general health. He has set his sights on a new challenge, one that reflects both his competitive nature and desire for personal growth.
“My ultimate goal right now is training for a HYROX race,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2026, the goal represents a new phase in his wellness journey, blending endurance, strength, and mental resilience.
For Art Wood, the work he does with the Tennessee Titans came from a mix of fate and hard work. “It’s never going to be a perfect story from start to finish,” Wood said. “It’s going to be bumpy. It’s going to be rough.”
Today, as he helps build the teams that power one of Nashville’s most iconic organizations, that same mindset continues to shape not only how he hires, but how he leads, proving that sometimes the most meaningful careers are built far beyond the spotlight.
Btw — he is also becoming a pilot.
We hope this story gave you the motivation to keep going!
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