Nearly lost in the sauce of the news of the Tennessee Titans extending the contracts of head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson was the team announcing the hirings of Tim Kelly and Bobby King.
The two former Houston Texans coaches will join Tennessee’s staff in 2022, with Kelly, a former offensive coordinator, serving as the passing game coordinator, and King as the inside linebackers coach.
After making the moves official, Vrabel revealed to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online that Kelly would serve in a role similar to that of senior defensive assistant Jim Schwartz.
“Tim Kelly will help the offense, very similar to how (senior defensive assistant) Jim Schwartz has on defense in his role,” Vrabel said. “I really thought that was a positive thing for us, and I think that worked well for our defense. And I want to do the same thing on offense. Tim is a guy I know, and I have worked with and watched.”
Vrabel also explained how the dynamic would work between Kelly and embattled offensive coordinator, Todd Downing, who had a rough first season as Tennessee’s offensive play-caller.
“Todd is in charge of the offense the same way Shane is in charge of the defense,” Vrabel said. “And it’s good to have guys who can help, and you can bounce ideas off of and communicate with and help us any way they can, and that is what Tim is going to do.”
Vrabel went on to express his excitement for the hiring of King, who he says is “a really good football coach.”
“Bobby is a guy that I have a lot of history with, and I think he’s a really good football coach,” Vrabel said. “The timing of these hires, it’s sometimes hard to get guys so I am excited to be able to get Bobby.”
The hiring of Kelly in particular is good news for fans who want Downing gone. Granted, they didn’t get what they wanted, but bringing in Kelly is at least an acknowledgment that more help is needed on offense.
And there’s reason for optimism that Kelly can help turn things around for a passing game that struggled in 2021 after he had success with quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Davis Mills during his time in Houston.
