Report: Jaguars Request to Interview Titans DC Shane Bowen For Same Role

Could the Jaguars be going with a familiar face as their next defensive coordinator?

Could the Jacksonville Jaguars be looking at a familiar foe to fill their defensive coordinator vacancy?

According to ESPN's Turron Davenport, the Jaguars are set to interview Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen for the same role. Bowen, and other Titans assistants, have been free to interview elsewhere despite Mike Vrabel's firing.

Former #Titans DC Shane Bowen to interview with the Giants and Jaguars for their vacant DC position per source.

— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 12, 2024

The Jaguars are looking for a new defensive coordinator after firing former coordinator Mike Caldwell on Monday night. The Jaguars also fired seven other defensive assistants, leaving only three of Pederson's 11 defensive staff members left.

The Jaguars finished the 2023 season ranked No. 17 in points per game, No. 22 in yards per game, No. 13 in EPA/Play allowed and No. 12 in Success Rate allowed.

After linking up with Vrabel in 2012 in Ohio State, Bowen followed Vrabel to the Houston Texans in 2016. Bowen spent two years with the Texans before following Vrabel to Tennessee in 2018, with Vrabel hiring Bowen as outside linebackers coach 10 days after being hired as head coach. 

Bowen remained outside linebackers coach in 2020 when defensive coordinator Dean Pees stepped away, though this was the first year that Vrabel gave him play-calling responsibility. 

Bowen was officially promoted to defensive coordinator in 2021, with the Titans ranking No. 6 in points per game en route to the No. 1 seed. Bowen has been the Titans' defensive coordinator ever since, though their defensive numbers have slipped in recent years as they have battled injuries and a roster going through an era of change.