Titans announce changes to coaching staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The Tennessee Titans have hired John Fassel as the team’s special teams coordinator. Fassel joins the Titans with 20 seasons of prior NFL experience, including the past five years as special teams coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys.

Additionally, Tony Oden has been added as passing game coordinator/cornerbacks, Rayna Stewart as assistant special teams coach and Luke Stocker has been promoted to tight ends coach.

Fassel arrived in Dallas in 2020, and from that point through the end of the 2024 campaign, the Cowboys consistently ranked among the NFL leaders in several special teams categories. They were fifth in gross punting average (48.3 yards per punt), fourth in net punting average (43.2 net yards per punt), second in kickoff return average (26.4 yards per return), first in total kick/punt return touchdowns (five), first in field goals made (168) and third in kickoff touchback percentage (74.0).

Three players coached by Fassel in Dallas earned a total of six Pro Bowl selections: punter Bryan Anger (2021 and 2023), returner KaVontae Turpin (2022 and 2024) and kicker Brandon Aubrey (2023 and 2024).

In 2024, the Cowboys set an all-time NFL record with an average of 32.1 yards per kickoff return (1,091 yards on 34 returns). Turpin averaged a league-best 33.5 yards per kickoff return and scored touchdowns on a 99-yard kickoff return and a 60-yard punt return. Aubrey ranked second in field goals made (40), including a league-high 14 field goals of 50-plus yards. Meanwhile, the team’s coverage units ranked 11th in opponent kickoff return average (27.1).

Prior to his time with the Cowboys, Fassel served as the special teams coordinator for the Oakland Raiders (2009-11) and St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams (2012-19). For the final three games of 2016, he also served the Rams as interim head coach. Fassel began his NFL tenure as a special teams assistant with the Baltimore Ravens (2005-07) and then spent one season as Oakland’s assistant special teams coordinator (2008) before being promoted to coordinator.

The son of late NFL coach Jim Fassel, John “Bones” Fassel played wide receiver at Weber State and was signed as an undrafted rookie wide receiver by the Indianapolis Colts. His multiple stops before coaching in the NFL included time as the head coach and assistant athletic director at New Mexico Highlands from 2003 to 2004.

Oden brings 19 years of NFL coaching experience and an additional eight season in the college coaching ranks. He spent the last four seasons (2021-24) with the New York Jets as senior defensive assistant/cornerbacks. In each of the last three seasons, the Jets ranked in the top 5 in defensive yards allowed, including 2024, where they ranked third in total yards allowed and fourth in passing yards allowed. In 2023, he guided CB Sauce Gardner to All-Pro and Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and the team ranked second in passing defense.

Over his time in the NFL, Oden has worked with a number of Pro Bowl performers including Gardner (NYJ), Xavien Howard (Miami), Darius Slay (Detroit), Darrelle Revis (Tampa Bay) and Roman Harper (New Orleans). Prior to joining the Jets, he spent one year (2020) in San Fransisco as defensive backs/cornerbacks coach and their passing defense ranked fourth in the NFL. He also had stops in Miami (2018-19), Detroit (2014-17), Tampa Bay (2013), Jacksonville (2012), New Orleans (2006-11) and Houston (2004-05). Before starting his coaching career in college, he was a four-year linebacker at Baldwin-Wallace College.

Stewart (first name pronounced ruh-NAY), who spent the past three seasons (2022-24) with Fassel in Dallas as an assistant special teams coach, reunites with the franchise that drafted him and gave him his first NFL coaching opportunity.

After playing collegiately as a defensive back at Northern Arizona, Stewart was a fifth-round selection (143rd overall) by the Oilers in the 1996 NFL Draft and was with the team through 1997. He then finished his playing career with the Miami Dolphins (1998) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1999-2000). In 71 NFL games, he produced 77 tackles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions and a half sack.

Stewart coached at Northwestern University (2007-08) prior to being hired under Titans head coach Jeff Fisher as a defensive quality control coach for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He remained in the Nashville area to work as a teacher and coach at Battle Ground Academy (Franklin, Tenn.) and Whites Creek (Tenn.) High School. He then joined Vanderbilt University for four seasons (2015-18), including three years as the director of player development and his final season with the Commodores as a special teams quality control coach.

In 2019, Stewart joined the Green Bay Packers as a special teams assistant and remained with the club before moving on to Dallas in 2022.

Stocker completed his second year on the Titans coaching staff in 2024. He originally joined the staff as an offensive assistant in 2023 and was promoted to assistant tight ends coach for the 2024 season. Last year, the tight end group accounted for 98 receptions and six touchdowns, while helping running back Tony Pollard surpass 1,000 yards rushing. Chig Okonkwo tallied 50+ receptions in each of the last two years, Josh Wyle saw significant growth in his production in his second year and Nick Vannett posted the second-highest reception total of his nine-year career.

Prior to joining the Titans coaching staff, Stocker had an 11-year NFL career, playing for Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Atlanta and Minnesota. He was a fourth-round selection by the Buccaneers in the 2011 NFL Draft from the University of Tennessee.

Chris Harris (passing game coordinator/cornerbacks), Justin Outten (tight ends) , Anthony Levine (assistant special teams) have expiring contracts and will not be returning. Colt Anderson (special teams coordinator) will not be retained on the staff.

Additional coaching staff moves will be announced as they develop.