NFL star Caleb Farley paid tribute to his father on Tuesday, the day after he died in a suspected gas explosion at the $2 million North Carolina mansion the athlete bought for his father.
Robert Farley, 61, died Monday in the blast that caused the North Carolina property to collapse.
Caleb Farley, 24, was filmed on site Tuesday morning and in the evening, the Tennessee Titans star posted scenes of a gathering at the site on Instagram.
“Dad you are a legend, I love you (for life),” the sportsman wrote on a video posted to his Instagram story.
The clip featured a large group roasting Robert.
“You weren’t supposed to go out like that,” he wrote.
Caleb Farley posted photos of friends and family toasting Robert Farley’s life
Farley is recovering from back surgery that prematurely ended his 2022 Titans season
Caleb Farley, pictured at the scene after a home he owned collapsed in North Carolina
Caleb sits and surveys the damage and devastation following a shocking accident to his family
The full extent of the damage was visible Tuesday morning on aerial images of the property
The explosion reportedly happened just before midnight, injuring another person, but they are not believed to have life-threatening injuries.
Robert Farley was found when the crew searched through the rubble of the building.
The death comes nearly six years after Caleb’s mother, Robin, died of breast cancer in January 2018 at age 53.
According to Kent Greene, director of Iredell County Fire Services and Emergency Management, Christian Rogers, 25, was found exiting the collapsed building.
Rogers, a family friend, was transported to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte with a concussion. He is awake and alert, but has not yet been discharged.
Neighbors told QCN that they were smoking gas around the time of the explosion.
Neighbor Pete Schuerger told WBTV.com, “It was like Armageddon. Insulation came from the air like snow, stones down the street, hundreds of feet away, chunks of wood. Pretty devastating to see that big explosion.”
“The 6,391-square-foot home is a total loss,” Iredell County Emergency Management said in a press release quoted by USA Today.
Caleb Farley’s father Robert passed away Monday after a house collapsed in North Carolina – nearly six years after his mother Robin died of cancer when she was just 53
Robert Farley (left) was 61 when he died while another person was injured in the explosion
A car is seen under the rubble – the explosion is described as ‘Armageddon’
The house was reduced to rubble after the explosion, killing one person at the scene
Authorities have yet to give an official cause of the explosion and an investigation is underway.
Photos from the scene show the Mooresville property reduced to rubble.
Caleb, dressed in a purple hooded sweatshirt, was photographed outside the home on Tuesday. He was seen sitting on a white car while deep in thought after the tragedy.
The house was listed for sale in 2022 for $2 million and was built in 2016. It had four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Born in Maiden, North Carolina, Caleb is a cornerback for the Titans and was drafted in 2021, after playing for Virginia Tech in college.
This isn’t the first time he’s faced a tragedy, and he credits it to his late mother, Robin, for instilling in him his faith in God.”
He told the Titans website, “She filled my heart with the love of God and that’s why I am where I am today.”
In March 2021, Caleb said of his mother’s final days, “It sounds selfish, but she was in so much pain it was hard to sit still. It was so constant: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It would hurt you. She is in a better place now because this world is turning evil. She shouldn’t have been here. Every day the world grows further away from God.’
A photo of the home owned by the NFL and Titans star before it collapsed
Caleb, who is 24, has previously said that his late mother taught him his faith
robert told NFL.Com how he knew Caleb was destined for great things as a child.
“He wasn’t even two or three years old when I told my wife he was determined to make a mark in some way,” said Robert Farley.
“I told her I hoped it would be more positive than negative, but I knew he would make a mark on this world in some way. And it wouldn’t be a small number. He would become famous.’
The Titans played the Minnesota Vikings for the last time this weekend, but Caleb was not on the team.
He is recovering from surgery last December for a herniated disc in his back.
Titans running back Derrick Henry said of Caleb on Tuesday morning, “I pray for Caleb. He was one of the last in the dressing room last night and kept hanging around.
“I don’t want to talk about it too much, I don’t know all the details. I pray for him, pray for his family. We all express our condolences. A tragic situation.’
Another teammate, Kevin Byard, said: “I texted him this morning to say I’m thinking about him. Caleb is a big believer, he has a lot of faith and I told him to lean on his faith as hard as he can.
Caleb’s Titans teammates said they were ready to support him after his latest tragedy
“I know he also lost his mother at a young age, he has had many setbacks. It’s very tragic.
“As a team, as a brother, I can only be there for him. It’s gonna be tough. It’s an unimaginable tragedy.
“Last year I lost my mother in the camp and the only advice I can give to someone going through something like this is to lean on your faith.
“I felt like I was in a really dark place for a while. Know that God does not make mistakes, no matter how hard it sounds and how hard it can be. You have to lean into it, you can end up in a very dark place.”
Mike Vrabel, the Titans coach, said, “What’s important is that we’re doing everything we can to support Caleb and his family. We’ll do everything we can.’