Titans Move Tim Kelly To Offensive Coordinator, Among Other Coaching Changes & Additions

/in /by

Tim Kelly. Photo: By Donald Page/Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans have announced numerous changes and additions to Head Coach Mike Vrabel’s coaching staff including the elevation of Passing Game Coordinator Tim Kelly to the position of Offensive Coordinator.

The team also announced the following hires to the coaching staff:

  • Charles London has been hired as Pass Game Coordinator/Quarterbacks.
  • Chris Harris has been hired as Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Cornerbacks.
  • Lori Locust has been hired as Defensive Quality Control.
  • Justin Hamilton has been hired as Defensive Quality Control.

The following coaches remain on the staff with new responsibilities:

  • Jason Houghtaling is now the team’s new Offensive Line Coach. He replaces Keith Carter, who was not retained.
  • Luke Steckel is now the team’s Run Game Analyst. Steckel previously served as Tight Ends Coach.
  • Pat O’Hara is now the team’s Pass Game Analyst. O’Hara previously served as Quarterbacks Coach.
  • Tony Dews is now the team’s Tight Ends Coach. Dews served previously as Running Backs Coach, a position that is yet-to-be filled.

Prior to joining the Titans as Passing Game Coordinator last year, Kelly spent eight seasons (2014-21) with the Houston Texans in a variety of roles, including Offensive Coordinator (2019-21), Tight Ends (2017-18), Assistant Offensive Line (2016) and Offensive Quality Control (2014-16).

As the Texans Offensive Coordinator in 2021, Kelly guided quarterback Davis Mills to a franchise rookie record for passing yards, ranked second among NFL rookies in passer rating and led all NFL quarterbacks in red zone passer rating (116.8). Wide receiver Brandon Cooks also set a career high with 90 receptions. In 2020, quarterback Deshaun Watson led the NFL in passing yards (4,823) and yards per attempt (8.9), while ranking second in passer rating (112.4) and third in completion percentage (70.2 percent). While with the Texans, the team captured four AFC South division titles.

The Titans make history, hiring Locust as the first female to join the coaching staff on a full-time basis. Locust served the past four seasons (2019-22) as the Assistant Defensive Line Coach for Tampa Bay.

During her tenure with the Bucs, they led the NFL in rushing defense, allowing only 92.3 yards per game. Additionally, the team ranked fifth in sacks (187), third in tackles for loss (348), first in quarterback hits (452) and fifth in takeaways (102). Nose tackle Vita Vea earned his first Pro Bowl selection, while totaling 15 sacks between 2019 and 2022, a total that led all nose tackles. Locust joined fellow Buccaneers assistant Maral Javadifar in becoming the first women on an NFL coaching staff to win a Super Bowl (LV).

Steven Boero
Latest posts by Steven Boero (see all)