Titans promote Tim Kelly to coordinator, hire first female coach in Lori Locust

Titans promote Tim Kelly to coordinator, hire first female coach in Lori Locust

Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel promoted Tim Kelly from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator after one season, it was announced this week.

Vrabel hired Charles London, who interviewed for the coordinator position, as Tennessee’s new pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“What Tim ultimately was able to do was be able to provide some familiarity and some carryover to what we were doing because I don’t think everything’s broken,” Vrabel said, per The Associated Press. “I don’t. I don’t believe that. … I’ve seen him call games in this league against us, felt like he has a great feel for the game.”

Kelly replaces Todd Downing, who was fired after two seasons. Before joining the Titans for the 2022 season, Kelly worked with the Houston Texans between 2014 and 2021 with the last three seasons as offensive coordinator.

The Titans ranked 28th in scoring an average of 17.5 points a game despite ranking sixth once Tennessee got inside an opponent’s 20.

The Titans ranked 30th in passing with Ryan Tannehill missing five games and ending the season on injured reserve.

The Titans hired former NFL player Chris Harris as their new defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach among their moves announced Tuesday.

Vrabel also has hired the franchise’s first full-time female coaching assistant, adding Lori Locust as defensive quality control coach from Tampa Bay along with Justin Hamilton, Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons, in the same position.

Locust joins scout Mical Johnson, the team’s first full-time female scout hired in June 2021.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.