Titans appear to be looking to make a splash with next offensive coordinator hire
It appears that the Tennessee Titans are looking to make a splash with their next offensive coordinator hire. The Titans fired offensive coordinator Todd Downing earlier this month after Tennessee finished with the No. 28 scoring offense in the NFL in 2022. It's the second time that Downing has been fired as an offensive coordinator. […]
It appears that the Tennessee Titans are looking to make a splash with their next offensive coordinator hire.
The Titans fired offensive coordinator Todd Downing earlier this month after Tennessee finished with the No. 28 scoring offense in the NFL in 2022.
It's the second time that Downing has been fired as an offensive coordinator. He was previously fired by the Oakland Raiders after just one season as the team's offensive coordinator.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Titans have requested permission to interview a couple of big NFL names to replace Downing in Nashville.
Tennessee has requested interviews with Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and KC quarterbacks coach Matt Nagy.
Nagy was previously the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
Bieniemy has interviewed for numerous head coaching jobs in recent years, but he's continued to be passed over in favor of other options.
One theory for why Bieniemy hasn't been hired as a head coach is that franchises view Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid as the sole reason for the Chiefs' success. And they might think Bieniemy is just along for the ride.
There were rumblings last offseason that Bieniemy could take an offensive coordinator job with another team to "prove himself" away from Mahomes and Reid. Instead, Bieniemy signed a one-year deal to return to Kansas City in 2022.
Because of that one-year deal, Bieniemy is free to consider all options this offseason.
As for Nagy, he wasn't a popular head coach in Chicago, despite taking the Bears to the playoffs twice. Prior to his time in Chicago, Nagy was a Chiefs assistant for five seasons (three as a quarterbacks coach and the final two as the team's offensive coordinator). Nagy was also with Reid in Philadelphia for several seasons as an analyst/quality control coach.
Despite Nagy's lack of popularity in Chicago, he's well-liked by Mahomes and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
"It’s been awesome to have ‘Nags’ back in the building," said Kelce recently on his podcast.
"Dude, he’s the best, man," added Mahomes during the podcast.
If Bieniemy leaves Kansas City this offseason, Nagy would likely be the top option to serve as the Chiefs' offensive coordinator in 2023.
I'm sure the Titans will cast a wide net in their search for a new offensive coordinator, but it's clear they're aiming high with this hire.
Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
