Titans Radio hire of Ramon Foster was “the plan” to succeed ‘Coach Mac’, Former Titans were solid options but wrong puzzle piece
Reports broke of the Tennessee Titans hire to succeed the late Dave McGinnis as Titans Radio color analyst. Former Steelers offensive lineman and Nashville radio host Ramon Foster did not play or coach for the team.
The Tennessee Titans had to replace a key voice of the organization now two off-seasons in a row with the too soon passing of radio analyst Dave McGinnis in April.
‘Coach Mac’, as he was affectionately known, battled through illness in the 2025 season alongside Taylor Zarzour, who replaced original voice of the Titans Mike Keith. Keith took the job at his alma mater to be the Vol Network’s main voice at the University of Tennessee in January of 2025.
Paul Kuharsky reported that Titans Radio was set to hire Ramon Foster to be the analyst alongside Zarzour in McGinnis’s absence. This report created quite the negative feedback from portions of Titans fans for having a non-Titan in the booth of the team’s radio broadcast.
Foster played all 11 seasons of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, former AFC Central rival of the Titans/Oilers, but has been hosting morning drive on 104.5 The Zone since his retirement after the 2019 season. The offensive lineman is a West Tennessee native and played his college ball with the Tennessee Volunteers, and was in the radio booth next to Keith in 2025.
Turns out, Mike Keith had plans for Foster all along.
Foster was “the plan” from Mike Keith to succeed Dave McGinnis
Titans Radio hired Foster to be the radio sideline reporter/analyst for the 2023 and 2024 season, with Keith and McGinnis in the booth.
What we’ve now learned from sources, independent to myself and Buck Reising, is that Foster was the plan to succeed Coach Mac, whenever he decided to hang up the headset. Unfortunately that happened before anyone wanted it to.
Keith had the Vol Network opportunity land in his lap with the retirement of Bob Kesling after the 2025 men’s college basketball season, but the Titans Radio plan for Foster was already in place. Keith and McGinnis were the two who saw Foster as the next color analyst, but neither expected it to happen this way.
I truly understand the folks who think the color analyst post should be held by a former Titan player or coach. If Mac had retired on his own, and Keith and Foster remained in their Titans roles, instead of their Vols roles for 2025, this would be a natural decision.
While this is not common in the NFL, having a color analyst who didn’t play for the franchise does currently exist. The San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, and Houston Texans all have radio analysts who didn’t play or coach for that franchise.
Former Titans who aren’t the right puzzle piece fit (in my opinion)
In today’s media landscape it’s easy to see a former player you enjoy being a great fit for the radio broadcast color analyst role.
In reality, that is typically a ‘second gig’ for a person who has a ‘main gig’ that allows for the two to co-exist. For example, now both Foster and previous Titans Radio analyst Frank Wycheck, both hosted morning drive radio shows on the flagship station. That is a popular main gig to second gig pairing across the league.
When a ‘main gig’ doesn’t allow for the ‘second gig’ (both with time and money) there’s no way for the puzzle piece to fit.
Taylor Lewan
The first round pick from 2014 and three time Pro Bowl left tackle would likely be the biggest personality and best entertainer of the list. He’s also really good at talking football, but committing to weekend game broadcasts for the Titans would halt many of the football season excursions Bussin with The Boys seems to be building upon over the years.
Of course, there’s a price for everything:
Kevin Dyson
Dr. Kevin Dyson, that is, has been a staple on Titans radio postgame talk back shows for two decades.
Dyson was the 16th overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Oilers and held the football on the two most picturesque moments in early Titans history: the Music City Miracle, and One Yard Short.
However, Dr. Dyson has the future education of Nashville’s youth top of mind as he plans to open a charter school, Music City Academy, in the coming years. Could he do both? Maybe, but it would be more likely if MCA was actually approved, built, open, and rolling.
Jason McCourty
McCourty would crush it in the booth, but he has a job track with a higher ceiling and pay. The former sixth round pick by the Titans is a CBS Sports analyst on Sundays in NFL stadiums across the league. McCourty also lives in his native New Jersey, not locally.
Delanie Walker
Walker, the Pro Bowl tight end from the 2010s, did set up his life after football in the Middle Tennessee area, and is 100% invested in being involved in the Titans organization. Walker also contributes to Lewan’s BTWB shows, and likely has a growing role there.
Eddie George
George is an aspiring ladder climbing college football coach at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, after getting his college HC start in Nissan Stadium roaming the Tennessee State Tigers sidelines.
Maybe Eddie could be the guy long, long down the road when he’s done coaching, similar to Coach Mac.
Former Titans who could do a good job
Keith Bulluck
Mr. Monday Night is my biggest “I dunno” name of those who could have been a pick to succeed McGinnis, prior to learning Foster was Mike Keith’s plan. Bulluck had regular weeknight shows on the Titans Radio Network in the past, has his own growing podcast, and expressed interest in the job.
Ben Jones
I think Jones would be good in time. The Titans longterm starting center is a personality on top of a gritty football mind. Could he be an option for the reported former Titan sideline job?
Marc Mariani
Mariani is all gas, no breaks. Entertainer. Juice. Energy. Passion. Loves the Titans. He’d be great.
Mariani and his wife run a successful real estate business in town. Easy conflict for Sundays 2-4pm.
Courtland Finnegan
Finnegan was a fan favorite as an underdog draft pick cornerback who had a stellar NFL career. Finnegan has remained in the area, has started businesses, and invested in the community. He simply doesn’t have enough broadcast experience yet.
Matt Hasselbeck
Former ESPN analyst and Titans QB would be a slam dunk. Matt is the current offensive coordinator at private school football powerhouse Ensworth, under his brother Tim.
Matt was the Titans QB for 21 starts in 2011-2012, and actually has the second most passing yards in a season by a Titans (not Oilers) quarterback, behind Ryan Tannehill. Hasselbeck was the starter in Seattle for a full decade before coming to Nashville.