Report: Tennessee Titans Hire a Tennessee Volunteer as Quarterbacks Coach
NASHVILLE — A Tennessee Volunteer is reportedly coming home to be the Tennessee Titans' new quarterbacks coach.
No, it's not Vols legend Peyton Manning, who has publicly praised the Titans' hiring of head coach Brian Callahan.
But Bo Hardegree, who grew up in Jackson and also played for the Vols, is the Titans' new hire. He'll be expected to continue the education of Will Levis, the presumptive quarterback of the future.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first to report the Hardegree news.
Hardegree was the interim offensive coordinator for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023 after they fired head coach Josh McDaniels. The Raiders averaged 23 points in nine games and won five of those games with rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell.
Hardegree, 39, joined the NFL in 2014 as an offensive quality control coach in Denver, where he worked with Callahan. He then served as an offensive assistant with the Bears in 2015 before being hired as the quarterbacks coach for the Dolphins in 2016.
He worked with the Jets in 2019 and 2020, coaching alongside Dennard Wilson, who now the defensive coordinator for the Titans.
In addition to the new hire, it's also possible that the Titans will retain a holdover from Mike Vrabel's staff.
According to a report from Justin Melo of the Draft Network, the Titans have blocked several interview requests for running bacls coach Justin Outten.
The Titans hired Outten last offseason, and despite an offensive line that was ranked the worst in the league by Pro Football Network, Derrick Henry rushed for more than 1,000 yards and made the Pro Bowl. Rookie running back Tyjae Spears also showed the potential to be a future star.
The Titans officially announced the hire of Nick Holz as offensive line coach. There are reported hires of Tyke Tolbert as wide receivers coach and Brian's dad Bill Callahan to coach the Titan offensive line.
Related Titans Stories
- ON WISCONSIN FOR VRABEL?: University of Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell expects that his old college roommate, teammate, and coaching colleague — former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel — will help him out in some capacity this year with the Big Ten's Badgers. CLICK HERE
- FREE-AGENT CORNERBACKS: The Tennessee Titans have the salary cap space to invest in reinforcements for their weak pass defense. Chicago's Jaylon Johnson and Kansas City's L’Jarius Sneed are the highest-ranked cornerbacks on ESPN's Top 50 free agent list, which also includes Tennessee's Sean Murphy-Bunting. CLICK HERE
- FREE-AGENT RECEIVERS: The Tennessee Titans' passing offense ranked in the NFL's bottom third or worse for passing yards and touchdown receptions. ESPN's top 50 free agents include wide receivers such as Tee Higgins, Mike Evans, and Michael Pittman Jr. CLICK HERE
- FREE-AGENT TACKLES: The Tennessee Titans need reinforcements on the offensive line. Titans coach Brian Callahan has hired his father Bill, one of the NFL's great teachers. But expect new faces to arrive in the NFL Draft and, if the Titans choose to spend some of their salary cap space, in the free agent market. CLICK HERE
