Titans hire Rams' LaFleur as OC
The Tennessee Titans have hired Matt LaFleur as offensive coordinator, the same position LaFleur held with the Los Angeles Rams this season.
With the Titans, LaFleur will have the opportunity to call plays, something he wasn't able to do under Rams head coach Sean McVay in his first season as an NFL offensive coordinator.
LaFleur, 38, interviewed for the Titans' head-coaching vacancy earlier this offseason before the team tabbed Mike Vrabel for the job.
In addition, the Titans officially announced the hiring of Dean Pees as defensive coordinator on Tuesday. The 68-year-old enjoyed a brief retirement, ending his six-year run as the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator on Jan. 1 before being lured back to fill the same role for Tennessee. Pees coached Vrabel when both were with the Patriots from 2004-08.
"I am excited to add both of these guys to our staff," Vrabel said in a statement. "Dean brings a great deal of experience and knowledge to our staff. I have seen first-hand how he teaches and develops from our time together and I wanted to bring that same experience to our players here."
"Matt brings an energy and an offensive diversity to our team. He is going to develop an offense that puts our players in position to have success. Matt has worked with some great offensive minds, helped game plan on those staffs and I am looking forward to seeing him take that next step as a play-caller."
LaFleur's stock received a boost with the success of the Rams' offense this season, primarily regarding second-year quarterback Jared Goff, whom LaFleur worked closely with. Goff, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, enjoyed a breakout campaign, totaling 3,804 yards, 28 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in leading the No. 1 scoring offense in the league.
With the Titans, LaFleur will help guide Marcus Mariota, who took a step back in his third season despite leading the Titans to the playoffs. Mariota threw a career-low 13 touchdowns passes compared to a career-high 15 interceptions.
LaFleur also worked with 2016 NFL MVP Matt Ryan in two seasons as the Atlanta Falcons' quarterbacks coach (2015-16) and held the same position with the Washington Redskins from 2010-13.
McVay had the choice to block LaFleur's move away from the Rams but opted not to. In the wake of LaFleur's departure, the Rams have promoted offensive line coach Aaron Kromer to run game coordinator and tight ends coach Shane Waldron to pass game coordinator.
"I'm excited for Matt LaFleur and his family as he transitions to the Titans as offensive coordinator," McVay said in a statement. "We're grateful for his contribution to the Rams and our NFC West Championship season last year. As we move to 2018, we are confident in the leadership and guidance of Aaron Kromer and Shane Waldron as they begin their roles as run coordinator and pass coordinator."
--Field Level Media
