Todd Downing

2023 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker

As the head coaching carousel spun for several weeks, many teams made coordinator changes as well. Teams seeking new head coaches are conducting OC and DC searches, and a handful of other teams that did not make HC changes are also searching for top assistants.

This is a big year for offensive coordinator hires, with nearly half the league making changes. Here are the teams searching for new OCs and DCs. As new searches emerge, they will be added to the list.

Updated 3-1-23 (3:31pm CT)

Offensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals 

Baltimore Ravens (Out: Greg Roman)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Ben McAdoo)

  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach, (Rams): Hired
  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Interviewed

Dallas Cowboys (Out: Kellen Moore)

  • Brian Angelichio, tight ends coach (Vikings): Interviewed 2/2
  • Thomas Brown, tight ends coach (Rams): Interviewed
  • Jeff Nixon, running backs coach (Panthers): Interviewed
  • Brian Schottenheimer, offensive consultant (Cowboys): Hired

Denver Broncos (Out: Justin Outten)

Houston Texans (Out: Pep Hamilton)

Indianapolis Colts (Out: Parks Frazier)

  • Jim Bob Cooter, passing-game coordinator (Jaguars): Hired
  • Tee Martin, wide receivers coach (Ravens): Interview requested

Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Eric Bieniemy)

  • Matt Nagy, quarterbacks coach (Chiefs): Hired

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Joe Lombardi)

Los Angeles Rams (Out: Liam Coen)

New York Jets (Out: Mike LaFleur)

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Shane Steichen)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Out: Byron Leftwich)

Tennessee Titans (Out: Todd Downing)

Washington Commanders (Out: Scott Turner)

Defensive Coordinators

Arizona Cardinals (Out: Vance Joseph)

Atlanta Falcons (Out: Dean Pees)

Buffalo Bills (Out: Leslie Frazier)

Carolina Panthers (Out: Al Holcomb)

  • Ejiro Evero, former defensive coordinator (Broncos): Hired
  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): Interviewed
  • Marquand Manuel, safeties coach (Jets): Interviewed
  • Kris Richard, co-defensive coordinator (Saints): Interviewed

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans 

Los Angeles Chargers (Out: Renaldo Hill)

  • Derrick Ansley, defensive backs coach (Chargers): Promoted
  • Doug Belk, defensive coordinator (Houston): Interviewed
  • DeMarcus Covington, defensive line coach (Patriots): Interviewed

Miami Dolphins (Out: Josh Boyer)

Minnesota Vikings (Out: Ed Donatell)

New Orleans Saints (Out: Ryan Nielsen, Kris Richard)

  • Joe Woods, former defensive coordinator (Browns): Hired

Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Jonathan Gannon)

San Francisco 49ers (Out: DeMeco Ryans)

  • Vic Fangio, former head coach (Broncos): On radar
  • Chris Harris, defensive backs coach (Commanders): Interviewed 1/31
  • Kris Kocurek, defensive line coach (49ers): On radar
  • Steve Wilks, former interim head coach (Panthers): Hired

Jets To Hire Todd Downing As Passing Game Coordinator

The Jets made a notable move when they hired Nathaniel Hackett as their new offensive coordinator. Another key addition has reportedly been made to their staff.

New York is hiring Todd Downing to serve as their passing game coordinator, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). He meets head coach Robert Saleh‘s previously stated goal of adding an experienced offensive staffer, something not accomplished by hiring Hackett as OC. The latter’s stint as head coach of the Broncos led to his dismissal before his rookie HC campaign ended, and did not see him retain play-calling duties throughout his tenure.

Downing, 42, spent the past two seasons as the Titans’ offensive coordinator. Tennessee kept him in place following his November DUI charge, but fired him at the end of the season. The Titans ranked near the bottom of the NFL in terms of both total and scoring offense in 2022, as running back Derrick Henry was less effective than usual and the team struggled to generate consistent production in the passing game.

Tennessee has since promoted Tim Kelly to their OC position, but Downing was quickly able to find his next NFL gig. The latter has plenty of familiarity with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, given their time spent together in Nashville. Prior to that, Downing also worked as the QBs coach, and later offensive coordinator, of the Raiders. That allowed him to spend time with Derek Carr, who is expected to hit free agency in the coming days and be a target of the Jets. New York is in the market for an upgrade under center, and Downing would be a familiar face to those two passers should an Aaron Rodgers acquisition not come to fruition.

Downing will join offensive line coach Keith Carter, who also made the move from Tennessee to New York upon Hackett’s hiring. Downing worked with the latter in Buffalo in 2014, so he will provide not only experience but familiarity as well, as the new-look Jets staff aims for a step forward on offense in 2023.

Titans Fire OC Todd Downing

A number of changes have been made to the Titans’ coaching staff in the wake of their losing streak to close out the season which left them out of the playoffs. Among them is offensive coordinator Todd Downing being fired, per a team announcement.

Tennessee seemed to be well on their way to another AFC South title for much of the 2022 season, but the team finished the campaign on a seven-game losing skid. That included their regular season finale against the Jaguars, which sealed their fate at 7-10 and sparked questions regarding Downing’s job security. Those have been answered with today’s announcement, one head coach Mike Vrabel hinted at when speaking to the media earlier.

Downing, 42, joined the Titans in 2019 and worked as the team’s tight ends coach. He held that role for two seasons, and was then promoted to OC to replace Arthur Smith after he left to become head coach of the Falcons. That move represented the second time Downing was put in charge of an offensive, as he had previously been the Raiders’ OC in 2017.

The Titans entered the campaign with a number of question marks on offense, with wideouts A.J. Brown and Julio Jones no longer in the picture and question marks surrounding quarterback Ryan Tannehill‘s future with the team. To perhaps little surprise, then, the team struggled to move the ball through the air in particular. Tennessee ranked 29th in the NFL with an average of only 190 passing yards per game, as Tannehill battled injuries late in the campaign and the team was unable to establish a consistent pass-catcher to lean on.

The Titans, with a healthy Derrick Henry, were still able to run the ball at a serviceable rate (125 yards per game). However, their production on the ground was not enough to hold on to a postseason berth; Tennessee scored more than 16 points just once during their late-season collapse. That led to increased calls for a shake-up on the sidelines, one which has now come not long after general manager Jon Robinson was fired in the middle of the campaign.

Downing’s job status was also called into question earlier this year when he was arrested on a DUI charge in November. Vrabel quickly voiced his support for Downing in the wake of the incident and both a team and NFL investigation, so this move comes as a reaction to on-field struggles. The arrest is still expected to set his head coaching aspirations back at least a few years, though.

In addition to Downing, offensive line coach Keith Carter, secondary coach Anthony Midget and offensive skill assistant Erik Frazier have been let go. In a statement, Vrabel said, “I want to thank Todd, Keith, Anthony and Erik for their service and commitment to our team over their time here in Tennessee. Each of them made an impact on our organization, were dedicated to the process and loyal members of our coaching staff.”

In what is shaping up to be a busy offseason for the Titans (featuring the GM search, and an evaluation of several key players’ futures, including that of Tannehill), the team will now begin to look for replacements on their staff.

Titans’ Ryan Tannehill Likely Out For Season

DECEMBER 22: It will be Willis, for this week at least, at quarterback for the Titans. Vrabel ruled out Tannehill for the Titans’ Week 16 rematch against the Texans. This will be Willis’ second start against the Texans.

DECEMBER 21: Ryan Tannehill‘s ankle injury could ultimately end his season. According to Paul Kuharsky, the Titans quarterback’s injury could require surgery and “will very likely end his season.”

[RELATED: Ryan Tannehill Unlikely To Play In Week 16]

Tannehill suffered a right ankle injury during Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. While the veteran QB only missed one series, he dealt with significant pain after returning to the game. Tannehill suffered an injury to the same ankle earlier this season, forcing him to miss a pair of games.

We heard yesterday that Tannehill was facing an uphill battle to play in Week 16, and as Kuharsky notes, offensive coordinator Todd Downing spoke as if third-round rookie Malik Willis will start against the Texans. Coach Mike Vrabel also gave the young signal-caller a vote of confidence this week.

“I’ve seen a lot of maturity and growth, seen the way that his reps are coming in our show team and trying to get him to act like the starting quarterback and lead that unit and communicate our language, the call that’s on the card, the operation, the snap count, the cadence, whether we go on the ball the next play,” Vrabel said (via Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean). “All those looks that we try to give him, I’ve seen a lot of maturity and growth in that regard.”

Willis didn’t look completely hopeless during his two starts, although the coaching staff limited him to only 26 pass attempts between the two games. With Derrick Henry in the backfield, the Titans should have enough to get past the Titans in Week 16.

The Titans would surely prefer their veteran QB under center against the Cowboys and Jaguars, but it’s not like he was doing a whole lot to help their playoff chances. While Tennessee currently sits atop the AFC South, they’ve dropped four straight, with Tannehill throwing three touchdowns vs. two interceptions over that stretch.

Coaching Rumors: Evero, Bevell, Downing

Ejiro Evero profiles as one of the more unusual coaching candidates in recent memory. The first-year Broncos defensive coordinator has delivered in his first season up from the position-coaching level, with Denver overcoming a stream of injuries — and the Bradley Chubb trade — to stay on course as a top-three scoring defense. Evero has come up on multiple teams’ HC radars, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. The Broncos might even be interested in talking to him about their job, Fowler adds, with Nathaniel Hackett barreling toward becoming this century’s 14th one-and-done coach. But Denver’s 3-7 record could delay a potential Evero ascent.

Evero, 41, spent the previous five years on Sean McVay‘s Rams staff but has been a longtime Hackett friend. The two played together at UC-Davis. The Broncos attempting a Hackett-for-Evero swap might be difficult, especially since the organization’s new owners would presumably like to start fresh considering how poorly this season has gone. But teams are monitoring Denver’s up-and-coming DC, who will almost certainly not have to worry about the playoffs scuttling any interview plans.

Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • Todd Downing‘s DUI arrest will undoubtedly have a significant effect on his near-future aspirations to become a head coach. Establishing some momentum during his two-year Titans OC stay — which has featured the 2021 team earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed without Derrick Henry available for the stretch run and this year’s squad move to 7-3, most recently after the team’s best offensive performance of the year — Downing should not expect to be on teams’ interview lists in 2023. A GM discussing this process told the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora the arrest will remove him from HC consideration during the upcoming cycle. Downing’s arrest has brought an NFL investigation and an internal probe, putting his status with the Titans on unsteady ground.
  • Darrell Bevell is a Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator and a two-time interim head coach, and CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson notes the Dolphins quarterbacks coach/passing-game coordinator is gaining momentum for a possible run as a full-time HC gig (Twitter link). The Dolphins’ offensive success may earn both Bevell and OC Frank Smith looks. Bevell, 52, has not been on the HC interview radar in many years, bouncing around in assistant roles since the Seahawks fired him after the 2017 season. The Bills did interview Bevell in 2015, and the Lions gave him an interview after his 2020 interim stay. Aided by the arrivals of Mike McDaniel and Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa has taken a major step forward this season. The third-year southpaw still leads the league in QBR. It will be interesting to see if Bevell ends up receiving interview consideration soon as a result.
  • Cardinals DC Vance Joseph has rebuilt his stock to the point he should be expected to land more interviews in 2023, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano adds. Joseph’s name has come up recently, despite his defense’s production dipping this season. Although the Cardinals have shown flashes defensively, they rank 31st and are coming off a nationally televised 38-10 loss to the 49ers. Joseph, who coached in Denver for two seasons, booked a Dolphins HC interview last year. With Kliff Kingsbury‘s Arizona staff potentially set to splinter, Joseph would at worst be a coordinator candidate elsewhere in 2023.

Vrabel: Todd Downing Remains Titans OC

Todd Downing‘s Friday DUI arrest is the subject of an internal Titans investigation and an NFL probe. The Tennessee offensive coordinator could face league discipline, and depending on the results of the league’s inquiry, the Titans could as well.

For now, however, Downing remains in place as Tennessee’s OC. Though, Mike Vrabel was quick to caution that status depends on the findings of these investigations. A Downing suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy will likely commence at some point, but nothing will presumably come to pass until his criminal case concludes.

We’ll continue forward with how things work with Todd as our offensive coordinator, but those things can change,” Vrabel said, via The Nashville Tennesseean’s Nick Suss. “I want to make sure everybody understands that. At any point in time we can hear from the league. The legal process, those things can obviously change. I want to make sure everybody understands that.”

After their Thursday win at Lambeau Field, the Titans landed back in Tennessee at 2:11am CT. Downing was pulled over for DUI at 3:49am. This timeline has led to obvious speculation the 42-year-old assistant was drinking on the team plane. In light of the revelation that Britt Reid was drinking at the Chiefs’ facility before his car accident that led to a 4-year-old girl suffering severe injuries, the NFL figures to take this matter seriously. Players and coaches are prohibited from consuming alcohol in team settings. The NFL, however, has not disciplined the Chiefs in connection with that 2021 incident. It will be interesting to see how the league’s Titans investigation unfolds.

The Titans brought Downing back to the OC level last year, promoting him from tight ends coach to replace Arthur Smith, who had also climbed from tight ends coach to play-caller to Falcons head coach. Downing did not fare well as the Raiders’ OC in 2017, a one-and-done stint in that role, but has resurfaced calling plays for the AFC South-leading Titans. Downing has been an NFL assistant since 2005, but this arrest could certainly affect his career trajectory.

Titans OC Todd Downing Arrested On DUI Charge

1:32pm: The Titans have begun an internal investigation into this situation, and head coach Mike Vrabel has been in contact with Downing, as noted by team reporter Jim Wyatt (on Twitter). The NFL, meanwhile, has also opened an investigation into the matter, one which could produce a range of consequences. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the league has been in contact with Tennessee, no doubt to ascertain exactly when it is that Downing began drinking. Depending on the outcome of the probe, significant discipline could be coming.

8:25am: Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing was arrested on a DUI charge early Friday morning, Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com reports. Downing was speeding at the time of the arrest, Tony Garcia of WSMV adds.

This arrest occurred in Tennessee hours after the Titans’ 27-17 win over the Packers at Lambeau Field. Tennessee Highway Patrol pulled over Downing at 3:49am; he was released from Williamson County Jail at 6:46am. Downing, 42, is in his second season as the Titans’ play-caller.

An Eden Prairie, Minn., native, Downing has been with the Titans since 2019. This is his second OC gig, coming after a one-and-done stay as the Raiders’ play-caller back in 2017. Downing has been an NFL assistant since 2005, when he broke into the league with the Vikings.

Downing’s stock will undoubtedly take a hit as a result of this development. Suspensions have followed other staff DUIs in the recent past, so it will be interesting to see how the Titans proceed here. The team’s plane landed at approximately 2:11am, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk adds, raising questions about where Downing began consuming alcohol Friday morning.

After hiring Downing as their tight ends coach in 2019, they promoted him to replace Arthur Smith in 2021. The Titans are coming off their best offensive performance of the season. They gained a season-high 408 yards in their road win, seeing their 29th-ranked passing attack produce 320 yards.

Titans To Promote Todd Downing To OC

The Titans are expected to promote tight ends coach Todd Downing to the role of offensive coordinator (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Downing takes over for Arthur Smith, who has left to serve as the Falcons’ head coach.

Smith also went from the Titans’ TE guru to the OC role, so the organization is hoping for similar success this time. Downing, 40, started out in the NFL as a football systems analyst with the Vikings in 2003. Since then, his NFL journey has included stops with the Rams, Lions, Bills, and Raiders.

This marks Downing’s second pro stint as an OC with his first coming in Oakland. Things didn’t go as planned for Downing as he lost quarterback Derek Carr to a serious back injury in the fall. Ultimately, his team placed near the middle of the pack in total yards and in the lower-third of the NFL for points scored.

Now, Downing will direct a Titans’ offense featuring QB Ryan Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry, and wide receiver A.J. Brown. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, head coach Mike Vrabel may hire a coordinator to take some of the defensive responsibilities off of his plate.

Titans Add Todd Downing To Coaching Staff

The Titans have added a former offensive coordinator to their staff. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the team has hired Todd Downing as their new tight ends coach.

Downing, 38, had a brief stint as the Raiders offensive coordinator back in 2017. While his experience is limited, he’ll still be able to provide Arthur Smith with some guidance. Smith was promoted to the Titans’ offensive coordinator role earlier this week after having spent the past eight seasons with the organization (including the past three as the tight ends coach).

Downing was fired by the Raiders organization following the 2017 campaign, and he was subsequently hired as the Vikings tight ends coach. The coach played a significant role in Kyle Rudolph‘s productive campaign (64 receptions, 634 yards, four touchdowns), and he also helped play a role in David Morgan and Tyler Conklin‘s emergence. While the duo didn’t do much in the passing game, they rated out as above-average blocking tight ends in 2018 (per Pro Football Focus).

The coach will be joining a talented tight ends corps in Tennessee. Delanie Walker missed the majority of the 2018 season with an ankle injury, but he had compiled at least 800 receiving yards in each of the previous four seasons. The team is also rostering former third-rounder Jonnu Smith, who finished this past season with 20 receptions for 258 yards and three touchdowns.

NFC North Rumors: Bears, Vikings, Packers

The Bears have agreed to hire former Colts defensive coordinator Ted Monachino as a defensive assistant, according to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times. Monachino served as Indy’s DC from 2016-17 when Chuck Pagano — who’s since been hired as Chicago’s defensive play-caller — was head coach, so the connection makes sense. A former linebackers and defensive line coach in Baltimore and Jacksonville, respectively, Monachino spent the 2018 season as a defensive analyst at the University of Missouri. He’d recently agreed to become the defensive coordinator at Kansas State, but he’ll back out of that commitment to join Pagano and the Bears. While there’s no official word as to what title Monachino will hold in Chicago, he’s likely coming aboard as linebackers coach.

Here’s more from the NFC North:

  • Tight ends coach Todd Downing is not expected to return to the Vikings in 2019, reports Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Downing still has a year remaining on his contract and was offered two new roles on offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski‘s staff, but it sounds like Downing turned down both opportunities. He’s now looking for other jobs elsewhere, and while there is a small chance he could eventually come back to Minnesota, a reunion is not considered likely, per Cronin. Downing, 38, was a rising star as recently as 2017, when the Raiders pushed out Bill Musgrave in order to make Downing offensive coordinator.
  • The Packers are expected to interview former Bengals offensive line coach Frank Pollack for the same role, per Jim Owczarski of PackersNews.com. Pollack was let go by Cincinnati despite excellent 2018 results, as new Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is reportedly eyeing Bill Callahan for his club’s OL coach gig. Green Bay, meanwhile, is on the hunt for a new offensive line coach after James Campen departed for Cleveland. 49ers assistant OL coach Adam Stenavich is already on the Packers’ radar, as San Francisco granted Green Bay interview permission on Wednesday.
  • Defensive assistant Scott McCurley won’t be retained as part of new Packers head coach Matt LaFleur‘s staff, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com. McCurley was Green Bay’s assistant linebackers coach from 2014-17, but moved into a generic defensive assistant role prior to last season. Per Demovsky, McCurely should be a popular name around the league given his experience under multiple defensive coordinators in Green Bay.
  • Luke Getsy — who served as the Packers‘ wide receivers coach from 2016-17 — is a candidate to return to that position in Green Bay, tweets Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Gestsy, 34, spent the 2018 season as the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State. The Packers sound as though they are simply waiting on an answer from Getsy, per Silverstein, who notes Getsy’s addition would give quarterback Aaron Rodgers a coach with whom he’s familiar.