The Titans' high-stakes coaching search
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Former Titans coaches Jeff Fisher (left) and Mike Vrabel. Photos: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images and Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Since the Titans relocated to Nashville in the late '90s, the most successful iteration of the franchise featured a gritty defensive-minded head coach paired with a rampaging running back.
- The combination of coach Jeff Fisher and running back Eddie George carried the Titans to a Super Bowl and sustained success for several seasons.
- Coach Mike Vrabel and running back Derrick Henry kept the team in constant playoff contention during their run in Tennessee.
Why it matters: As Titans management hunts, once again, for a new coach, the team could consider returning to its roots and hiring a hard-nosed, tone-setting defensive mind to lead the team.
Driving the news: The Titans are in the midst of interviewing coaching candidates, and according to national media reports, they've cast a wide net.
- Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anaruma and Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley are two coaches who fit the profile of Fisher and Vrabel. They have defensive backgrounds, have never served as NFL head coaches before and are well-regarded around the league.
- Anaruma and Hafley both have interviews lined up with the Titans, according to national reports. With a high draft choice, the Titans could even pair their new coach with prized running back prospect Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame.
The other side: Another school of thought suggests the Titans could pursue a coach with an offensive background to ensure the success of young quarterback Cam Ward.
- Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, former Browns coach Kevin Stefanski and Steelers coach Arthur Smith (a former Titans assistant coach) fall into that category.
The intrigue: Many of the reported Titans candidates previously served as head coaches for other teams.
- In addition to Nagy, Stefanski and Smith, Titans candidates Vance Joseph, Raheem Morris, Jason Garrett and Robert Saleh were head coaches earlier in their careers.
- Analysts think the Titans could prefer a candidate with head coaching experience after the failure of former coach Brian Callahan, who never had a top job before coming to Nashville.
Stunning stat: Lost in a barrage of headlines about who may serve as the new coach, the Titans made news for an unfortunate reason this week.
- The franchise led the league in attendance drop, with a 9.1% decrease this past season, according to ProFootballTalk.
The bottom line: It's understandable that fans didn't want to come out in droves to support a three-win team.
- Considering the massive public investment, in terms of state and local tax collars committed to the new Nissan Stadium, the Titans owe it to their fans and the community to get the coaching hire right.