The perfect Titans offensive coordinator to complement the next HC

NASHVILLE — With the Tennessee Titans searching for the team's next head coach after firing Mike Vrabel, the organization is also looking for the coaching staff that will support the candidate they hire. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk pointed to the supporting coaching staff as one of the critical things she will be looking at […]

Sam Phalen
Add as preferred source on Google
Tennessee Titans
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

NASHVILLE — With the Tennessee Titans searching for the team's next head coach after firing Mike Vrabel, the organization is also looking for the coaching staff that will support the candidate they hire.

Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk pointed to the supporting coaching staff as one of the critical things she will be looking at when assessing potential candidates.

The Titans want a head coach who can put together a staff and that allows players to excel. Because the performance of quarterback Will Levis is more important than anything, the perfect offensive coordinator is clear.

Introducing Liam Coen

Titans fans have probably heard the name Liam Coen a time or two before. If you’re an SEC football viewer, you’re likely familiar with Coen from his experience at the University of Kentucky. But even for Titans fans who do not watch as much college football, Coen is a name frequently brought up when discussing the development of quarterback Will Levis. His name was especially prevalent during the 2023 NFL Draft.

In 2021, Levis' junior year and first season as a full-time starter, Coen was Levis’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Kentucky. In that year, the Wildcats were ranked fifth in the SEC in scoring offense (32.3 points per game) and eighth in total offense (452.2 yards per game). But perhaps more important, Levis was unquestionably at his best.

Levis had 2,826 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions in 2021 with nine rushing touchdowns and 376 rushing yards. Kentucky also won double-digit games for just the second time in 40 years.

"Whoever gets this kid is going to get the steal of the draft. I can’t imagine him having to wait around long," Coen said of Levis after he was not picked in the first round of the 2023 draft.

Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen (left) and quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) during organized team activities at California Lutheran University (2022).Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The familiarity is there. The relationship is there. The opportunity is there. After leaving to be the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, Coen returned to Kentucky to be the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach again in 2023. But we know he's not afraid to make the leap to the NFL, and teams have already started calling him. 

The Chicago Bears requested an interview with Coen for their vacant offensive coordinator job last week. 

If the Titans go the direction most people believe they should and hire an offensive minded head coach (i.e. Ben Johnson, Brian Callahan), Coen would be a perfect fit at offensive coordinator. He wouldn't have to worry about calling the plays, he could simply be assisting the offensive head coach with the scheme while directing a lot of his focus towards developing Levis – that's something he knows more about than anyone else.

Will Levis is the most important player on Tennessee's roster right now. Developing him properly should be the organization's top priority in a post-Vrabel world. Coen would be a great coach to bring in if that's the goal.

Related Articles