MOORESVILLE, N.C. — A home along Lake Norman exploded and collapsed late Monday night, killing one man and injuring another, fire officials said Tuesday morning. The home belongs to Caleb Farley, an NFL player with the Tennessee Titans.

The home belongs to Caleb Farley, a defensive back with the NFL's Tennessee Titans. (Spectrum News 1/Anthony Watts)

Caleb Farley's father, Robert Farley, 61, was found dead in the collapsed home, officials said. A 25-year-old man, described by officials as a friend of the family, was injured in the explosion. He was taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte with a concussion. He is “awake and alert,” Director of Iredell County Fire Kent Greene said, but has not yet been discharged from the hospital.

Emergency officials said they believe an accidental gas leak caused the explosion. 

Greene said gas must have accumulated over a long period of time and likely found its way to an ignition source, which caused the explosion. The blast, which local authorities have ruled accidental, originated in a bedroom and did not damage any surrounding homes.

Officials said the first 911 call about the explosion came in just before midnight Monday night. 

The 6,391-square-foot multi-million dollar home is on Barber Loop, off of Brawley School Road, in Mooresville. Officials said Farley bought the $3 million Lake Norman home for his father. 

Farley was at the scene Tuesday with other members of his family. He could be seen pulling a football helmet from the rubble and other keepsakes. 

Farley, 24, is a native of Maiden, North Carolina. He played football for Maiden High School before attending Virginia Tech. He was a first-round NFL draft pick in 2021. 

"What's important is that we do everything we can to support his family and do everything we can to be there for him," Titans head coach Mike Vrabel said at a news conference Tuesday.

Teammates offered their condolences. 

Vrabel told the Titans about Caleb Farley’s loss at the end of Tuesday’s scrimmage, and then the players took a knee in an apparent prayer. 

“That’s the most important thing is to focus on him and not any of the … everything else is pretty trivial,” Vrabel said after practice at the team’s headquarters in Nashville.

Caleb Farley's mother, Robin Farley, died of breast cancer in 2018.

The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are helping the Iredell County Fire Marshal’s Office with the investigation, county officials said.  

"It's a very gorgeous house in all respects, but we just can't believe the devastation and what must have happened there," a neighbor, Clay Wild, said. "I'm assuming some kind of gas leak, but I am just amazed to wake up and find out this morning and see that. It's just incredible." 

Neighbors, who were outside consoling each other early Tuesday morning, said it felt like there was an earthquake in the middle of the night.

Dominion Energy, which provides gas service to the area, said they responded to the site early Tuesday. The company confirmed that the house has gas service. 

"We continue working in coordination with emergency personnel on this ongoing investigation. We are deeply saddened at the tragic loss of life. Our hearts go out to the family impacted by this event," Dominion said in a statement. 

Greene, with Iredell County fire, said he could not confirm whether the gas company or the homeowner would be liable for the damages. The gas meter used to measure the volume of fuel gases flowing into nearby homes has been sequestered and does not pose any present danger to others in the community, Greene said.

"I'm just freaked out. I can't believe that house was devastated. It was a beautiful house, and I'm really hoping no one was in there," neighbor Laura Wild said. Dozens of firefighters were at the home Tuesday as crews sifted through the rubble with a bulldozer.