Tyler’s Takes: Reaction to Tim Kelly Promotion is Absurd

The Tennessee Titans’ promotion of Tim Kelly was met with some positive reaction, but there were a lot of misplaced complaints after the news as well.

The Tennessee Titans have a new offensive coordinator. Tim Kelly was given a promotion from passing game coordinator to offensive coordinator and now will be able to run ‘HIS’ offense in 2023. The fan base’s reaction to the hire was best described as mixed. Some liked the move, excited for the changes in general or just happy it was no longer Todd Downing. Some were understandably uninspired. Some were outraged that the Titans did not hire an offensive coordinator from outside the organization.

While any reaction is justified, the reason for the reactions that I saw were a bit ridiculous. One of the main issues some in the Titans community had with the hire wasn’t the hire itself, but the fact that Mike Vrabel did not give Tim Kelly a chance during the 2022 season to do an audition of sorts. Many wondered why, if Vrabel wanted Kelly, he didn’t give him the reins for a segment of the end of the season so he could prove himself worthy.

To me, this is the most absurd reasoning of all. If Mike Vrabel fired Todd Downing with a month left in the season and let Tim Kelly call plays, nothing would have changed. The Titans roster was decimated by injuries. Back up quarterbacks in Malik Willis and Josh Dobbs were running the offense while the offensive line was in shambles, playing 3-4 back ups in those games.

Have you ever drove someone’s car that you aren’t used to driving? You get in and the seat is in the wrong position, you don’t have proper sight line in the mirrors, the steering wheel just doesn’t feel right in your hands and, worst of all, the brakes either give more or are too touchy compared to what you are used to. Tim Kelly would’ve been driving Todd Downing’s car for the last month and that car was falling apart.

If Mike Vrabel had done that, Kelly would’ve look bad as well. He would have put a stain on Kelly’s resume that would have hurt his perception to the fan base and future employers. Now, that isn’t an excuse for Todd Downing. Downing’s offense performed poorly in 2021 and with a healthy offense early in 2022. Downing’s offense put up 27 points in the best win of the year at Green Bay and it felt like finding water in the desert for fans. That was how low the bar was.

Fans clamored for Kelly to get a chance before and during the 2022 season. Now, he finally gets it and can install his offense and a lot of those same folks are outraged. At some point, it feels like folks are just searching for something to be upset with. Yes, you are justified in feeling underwhelmed if you wanted an outside candidate. I wanted Brian Johnson from Philadelphia, personally, but that is what the Charles London hire as quarterback coach and passing game coordinator was supposed to address. 

So, I get some of the response, but at the end of the day, the folks who are angry, not because Kelly got the gig, but because he didn’t get it sooner, need to relax. It’s a silly complaint to have. 

• TIM KELLY PROMOTED: The Tennessee Titans have promoted Tim Kelly to offensive coordinator. Kelly had been spent the 2022 season as the Titans Passing Game Coordinator on offense. CLICK HERE
• TITANS OVERHAUL STAFF: The Tennessee Titans promoted Tim Kelly to offensive coordinator as part of a massive coaching staff overhaul that saw new faces hired and some current coaches moved to new roles. CLICK HERE
• TYLER'S TAKE ON TRADE RUMORS: There are rumors floating around that the Tennessee Titans are interested in trading up to the first overall pick. But the reason for calling the Chicago Bears for a trade may not be as obvious as it seems, according to AllTitans.com writer Tyler Rowland. CLICK HERE