Tag: titans

Feb 7, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Kansas City Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed (38) during a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII at Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Titans acquire CB L’Jarius Sneed from Chiefs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, a starter on the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning teams each of the past two seasons, is headed to the Tennessee Titans, ESPN and NFL.com reported Friday night.

The Titans reportedly are sending the Chiefs a 2025 third-round pick, and the clubs will swap seventh-round selections in 2024.

The deal came together after Kansas City placed the nonexclusive franchise tag on Sneed this month, days after granting him permission to find another team willing to trade for his services.

Sneed will receive a new contract from Tennessee, per the two reports. According to ESPN, he will wind up with one of the richest contracts for a cornerback.

Sneed, 27, is set to become the second cornerback to join the Titans in the offseason, following former Cincinnati Bengal Chidobe Awuzie, who landed a three-year deal earlier this month.

The Chiefs drafted Sneed in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of Louisiana Tech, and he wound up playing 57 regular-season games, including 54 starts, for Kansas City.

He also started all 13 of the team’s postseason games during his tenure, including three Super Bowls.

In 2023, Sneed had 78 tackles, two interceptions, 14 passes defensed and one fumble recovery in 16 games, all starts. He added 17 tackles and three passes defensed in the playoffs, including three tackles and one pass defensed in Kansas City’s 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl last month.

For his career, he has 303 tackles, 10 interceptions, 6.5 sacks, 40 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day (51) celebrates after a fourth down stop against the Chicago Bears during third quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports

Agent: DT Sebastian Joseph-Day reaches deal with Titans

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Defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

NFL Network cited Joseph-Day’s representation, Legend Agency, in announcing the deal.

Financial terms were not disclosed on the contract for Joseph-Day, who visited the Titans on Monday.

Joseph-Day, who will turn 29 on Thursday, started all 14 games in which he appeared with the Los Angeles Chargers last season before being waived. He quickly signed with the San Francisco 49ers and came off the bench in two games.

He had 36 tackles and 3.0 sacks in 16 games last season.

A Super Bowl champion with the Los Angeles Rams, Joseph-Day has totaled 229 tackles, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 71 games (68 starts). He has played with the Rams (2019-21), Chargers (2022-23) and 49ers (2023) since being selected by the Rams in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Oct 29, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. (9) enters the field before the game against the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Titans to add LB Kenneth Murray, CB Chidobe Awuzie

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Linebacker Kenneth Murray and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie signed with the Tennessee Titans.

Murray, a former first-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers, signed a two-year, $18 million contract according to ESPN and NFL Network. He had 321 tackles in four seasons with the Chargers.

Awuzie played 32 games in three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, where he lined up across from coordinator Brian Callahan’s offense in practice. Callahan was named Titans head coach in January.

The Titans have had multiple swings and misses on cornerbacks in recent years in the draft and free agency.

Awuzie’s three-year deal is worth $25.5 million and runs through 2026, ESPN reported.

Awuzie was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2017 and left to join the Bengals as a free agent in 2021. He recovered from a torn ACL in 2022 to rejoin the Bengals in time for training camp last summer.

–Field Level Media

Reports: RB Tony Pollard agrees to deal with Titans

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Running back Tony Pollard agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Tennessee Titans on Monday, according to multiple reports.

Pollard and second-year player Tyjae Spears are the new face of the Titans’ running game with Derrick Henry hitting free agency.

Pollard’s deal matches the reported value of the Bears’ agreement with D’Andre Swift, a free agent who played for the Eagles last season.

After five seasons in Dallas, including 2023 under the franchise tag, Pollard, 26, becomes the first acquisition under head coach Brian Callahan.

Pollard rushed for 3,621 yards with 23 touchdowns in 79 games (23 starts) with the Cowboys, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Memphis. He also caught 176 passes for 1,319 yards and five TDs.

Reports indicate interest was high in Pollard with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants among the teams hoping to huddle with the big-play back.

Pollard’s exit leaves Dallas in need of a starter at the position.

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders assistant wide receivers coach Nick Holz looks on during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Titans hiring Jaguars’ Nick Holz as OC

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The Tennessee Titans are hiring Nick Holz as their new offensive coordinator, ESPN reported Friday.

Holz, 39, was the Jacksonville Jaguars’ passing game coordinator last season.

New Titans head coach Brian Callahan is expected to call the plays for the offense in 2024.

Holz would replace Tim Kelly, fired last month along with several members of former head coach Mike Vrabel’s staff.

Callahan’s father, Bill Callahan, was named the Titans’ new offensive line coach on Thursday.

When Bill Callahan was the head coach at Nebraska, he gave Holz his first college coaching job as an offensive quality control coach and video intern in 2007.

Holz coached with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders in various capacities from 2012-21 before becoming the offensive coordinator at UNLV in 2022.

The Titans (6-11) finished 27th in the NFL in scoring (17.9 points per game) and 28th in total offense (289.0 yards per game) in 2023.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; View of helmets on the field as Tennessee Titans players finish training camp practice. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Titans set to hire Dennard Wilson as DC

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Dennard Wilson, the secondary coach of the Baltimore Ravens’ highly regarded defense this season, is set to join the Tennessee Titans as defensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday night.

Brian Callahan recently took over as Tennessee’s head coach, replacing Mike Vrabel. He reportedly will replace Shane Bowen, who had been the Titans’ defensive coordinator since 2021.

Wilson, 41, spent just one season in Baltimore, and the Ravens fielded one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. They ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth in total yards allowed (301.4 per game) and sixth in passing yardage allowed (191.9 per game).

Wilson’s secondary tied for the second-fewest passing touchdowns allowed (18) while grabbing 18 interceptions, which tied for third in the league.

The Ravens, who posted an NFL-best 13-4 record, had their season end Sunday with a 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

A University of Maryland alumnus, Wilson never got into an NFL regular-season game.

He began his coaching career with the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012, remaining with the franchise when it moved to Los Angeles while working as the defensive backs coach in 2015-16. He subsequently filled essentially the same role for the New York Jets (2017-20) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) before joining the Ravens.

The Titans will hope to upgrade a defense that ranked 16th in opponents’ scoring (21.6 points per game) and 18th in total yards allowed (335.1 per game).

Tennessee finished 6-11, in last place in the AFC South.

–Field Level Media

Tennessee Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan addresses the media after being introduced by Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk at Ascension Saint Thomas Sports Park in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.

New Titans coach Brian Callahan ready to call plays for QB Will Levis

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Brian Callahan has been around some great quarterbacks in his 14 years as an NFL assistant coach.

As he takes over as head coach of the Tennessee Titans and starts calling plays for the first time, he is hoping second-year quarterback Will Levis becomes something akin to Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford or Joe Burrow.

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be around great players, and those guys all bring something different and unique,” Callahan said in his introductory press conference Thursday.

He said taking over an offense that features Levis, a second-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, “is attractive. I thought that Will was a really good player coming out of (Kentucky), and I thought when you watched him play this year you saw growth. …

“I saw a lot of really positive things, some of the throws, some of his competitive instincts that he put on tape were really impressive. So I’m excited to dive more into that and how can he get better from Year 1 to Year 2 and keep putting him in position to find success so we can score some points on offense.”

In nine starts in 2023, Levis produced three wins and completed 58.4 percent of his passes for 1,808 yards with eight touchdown passes and four interceptions.

Callahan, 39, had been the offensive coordinator for the Bengals since 2019, but head coach Zac Taylor had called plays in Cincinnati. So this will be the first time Callahan has full control of an offense. He said it won’t be a big transition.

“The way we worked in Cincinnati (was) very collaborative,” he said. “I’ve been with Zac for five years, working with him as the primary play-caller and me as the offensive coordinator. I feel really great about the process. Part of that is bringing in great people to help me. And that’s a huge part of our next couple weeks is finding those people. … It’s going to be a collaborative approach on offense.”

Callahan also said he had an “instant connection” with general manager Ran Carthon.

“Just the connection from the get-go was incredible, and I knew that it was going to be a place that I wanted to call home,” said Callahan, who coached as an assistant in Denver, Detroit and Oakland before arriving in Cincinnati.

“I was about to make an impassioned plea to Ran as our meeting was concluding on Monday evening, and it turns out I didn’t have to do that. They wanted me about exactly the same way that I wanted them. Everything felt right.”

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan takes questions during the Cincinnati Bengals annual preseason media luncheon at Paul Brown Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Monday, July 26, 2021. Cincinnati Bengals Media Day

Titans hire Brian Callahan as coach, promote Ran Carthon

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The Tennessee Titans hired Brian Callahan as head coach and promoted Ran Carthon to executive vice president and general manager on Wednesday.

The Titans also promoted Chad Brinker to president of football operations to complete sweeping changes in the organizational structure following a 6-11 season.

Callahan, the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals since 2019, had his second interview with the team on Monday. He replaces Mike Vrabel, who was fired after six seasons with a 54-45 record.

“This is an exciting time for our franchise, and we’re thrilled to have Brian as our head coach,” said Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk. “We went through a thorough candidate search and Brian stood out as the best person to lead our football team. I want to thank the other candidates who were part of this process and wish them well moving forward.”

The Titans also interviewed Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and Las Vegas Raiders then-interim coach Antonio Pierce.

The Raiders since hired Pierce as their permanent head coach.

“Brian has a track record of success and a range of experience that has prepared him for this opportunity,” Adams Strunk continued. “His football knowledge and his enthusiasm for the game really stand out, and beyond that, we think his ability to lead will make him the ideal fit for our franchise.”

Callahan, 39, is the son of former Oakland Raiders and Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan, currently the offensive line coach of the Cleveland Browns. Before joining Cincinnati, Brian Callahan coached quarterbacks with the Raiders (2018) and Detroit Lions (2016-17) and was an assistant with the Denver Broncos (2010-15).

“If you look at his history, Brian has been a part of a Super Bowl winning team (Denver, 2015) and another team that advanced to the Super Bowl (Cincinnati, 2021),” Adams Strunk said. “He’s worked in a variety of dynamic offenses with top-flight quarterbacks. At each step of his career, he’s shown the flexibility and intelligence to make an impact.”

In 2022, Cincinnati ranked eighth in total offense (360.5 yards per game) and seventh in scoring offense (26.1 points per game). The Bengals took a step back in 2023 as Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in November.

Carthon was hired as Tennessee’s GM in January 2023 and now adds the executive VP title, while Brinker had been the assistant GM since February after 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers organization.

The team said Carthon’s duties will include roster control, team activities, personnel decisions (including draft and free agency acquisitions), oversight of Callahan and his coaching staff, scouting, sports medicine and player engagement.

Brinker’s new role is a new one for the organization, too. His day-to-day responsibilities will include direct oversight of the football departments that address salary cap management; analytics and strategy; communications and information systems; and team operations including security, video, equipment and grounds.

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan completed an interview with the Titans on Jan. 12.

Reports: Titans to hire Bengals OC Brian Callahan as head coach

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The Tennessee Titans are finalizing an agreement to hire Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their next head coach, ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday.

Callahan, 39, has been in charge of the Bengals’ offense under Zac Taylor since 2019.

Callahan had a second interview with Tennessee on Monday, reports said, as the Titans work to replace Mike Vrabel. Tennessee parted with Vrabel after a 6-11 season in 2023.

In 2022, Cincinnati ranked eighth in total offense (360.5 yards per game) and seventh in scoring offense (26.1 ppg). The Bengals took a step back in 2023 as Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in November.

The Titans figure to be entering a rebuild, as veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill and star running back Derrick Henry are among the players hitting free agency. Malik Willis and Will Levis are on the quarterback depth chart after Tennessee took them on Day 2 of back-to-back drafts.

Callahan is the son of former Oakland Raiders and Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan, who is currently offensive line coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Two other NFL teams have filled head-coaching vacancies: The New England Patriots promoted Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick and the Las Vegas Raiders removed the interim tag for Antonio Pierce. The Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders also need to make a hire.

–Field Level Media

Dec 31, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel looks on during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Mike Vrabel meets with Chargers about coaching job

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The Los Angeles Chargers are meeting with Mike Vrabel on Thursday as they look to fill their open head-coaching job, NFL Network reported.

It is believed to be the first interview for Vrabel, who was fired by Tennessee after the Titans finished 6-11 in the 2023 season and out of the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Titans were 54-45 in six seasons under Vrabel.

ESPN reported Thursday that the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks also are interested in meeting with Vrabel.

The Chargers are seeking replacements for head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco, both of whom were fired on Dec. 15.

So far, the Chargers have announced interviews with the following coaching candidates: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh; Todd Monken and Mike Macdonald, the offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, of the Baltimore Ravens; San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks; Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan; and Leslie Frazier, who didn’t coach in the NFL this season but most recently was the defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills.

In addition to Vrabel, Harbaugh, Wilks and Frazier all have NFL head-coaching experience.

–Field Level Media