The Tennessee Titans kicked off their search for a new head coach Thursday with a pair of interviews – both defensive coordinators who’ve
never been NFL head coaches.
The Titans confirmed they interviewed Houston’s Mike Vrabel and Carolina’s Steve Wilks. Tennessee is looking to replace Mike Mularkey
Youth Derrius Guice Jersey , fired Monday after he went 21- 22 and won the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years.
Vrabel, 42, has never been a head coach at any level. He is coming off his first season as defensive coordinator for the Texans. Vrabel played 14 years in
the NFL with Pittsburgh, New England where he won three Super Bowl titles and
Kansas City before going into coaching. He started coaching in 2011 at his alma
mater
Cheap Customized Baltimore Ravens Jerseys , Ohio State. He coached linebackers and defensive linemen.
Vrabel went to Houston in 2014 and coached linebackers with the Texans for three seasons before becoming coordinator. The Texans won the AFC South in 2015
and 2016 thanks to strong defenses. The unit slipped this season with the
Texans’ defense decimated by injuries to players including J.J. Watt and Whitney
Mercilus .
General manager Jon Robinson gave little indication Monday of what he’s looking for in the man who will be the Titans’ fourth head coach eight seasons
and third in quarterback Marcus Mariota’s fourth season.
”Leader of men,” Robinson said of what he wants in a new head coach. ”Obviously, the things that are stamped out there on those pillars: team-first,
detailed
Armani Watts Jersey Chiefs , tough, dependable. One that’s going to, like I said, maximize the abilities of the players in all three phases of the
game.”
Wilks has only been a head coach in college at Savannah State in 1999. His first season as defensive coordinator with the Panthers was 2017
Cheap Justin Jones Jersey , but he has coached with Chicago, the Chargers and joined Carolina in 2012. Wilks was assistant head coach in 2015 and
2016.
Interviewing Wilks helped the Titans satisfy the league’s Rooney Rule, and Wilks also interviewed with the New York Giants about their opening. Panthers
linebacker Thomas Davis certainly thinks Wilks has earned the right to be a head
coach.
”He has done a tremendous job of coming in and taking over this defense and really giving us a chance to be successful,” Davis said.
—
AP Sports Writer Steve Reed contributed to this report from Charlotte.
—
Follow Teresa M. Walker at .
Adidas Jakub Voracek Jersey ,
Ryon Healy Jersey Womens ,
Los Angeles Rams Customized Jerseys ,
Chicago Bears Elite Jerseys ,
