2023 Tennessee Titans season

The 2023 season was the Tennessee Titans' 54th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 64th overall, their 27th in the state of Tennessee and their sixth and final under head coach Mike Vrabel. The Titans attempted to improve upon their underachieving 7–10 record from last year. They also attempted to make it back to the playoffs after missing them for the first time since 2018. However, after a Week 15 loss to the Houston Texans in overtime, they were eliminated from playoff contention for the second year in a row.[1] The following week they were locked to last in the AFC South after losing to the Seattle Seahawks 20–17 in Week 16, and they failed to improve on their 7–10 record from 2022. On January 9, the Titans fired Vrabel.[2]

2023 Tennessee Titans season
OwnerKSA Industries
General managerRan Carthon
Head coachMike Vrabel
Home fieldNissan Stadium
Results
Record6–11
Division place4th AFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersRB Derrick Henry
Uniform

Offseason

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Coaching changes

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On January 9, 2023, the Titans fired offensive coordinator Todd Downing, offensive line coach Keith Carter, secondary coach Anthony Midget, and offensive skill assistant Erik Frazier.[3] Under Downing in 2022, the Titans' offense was 30th in the league in yards and 28th in points-per-game.[4] Fans had called for his firing since during the 2021 season, and many celebrated his departure.[5][6] Carter's offensive line under his tenure was consistently ranked low, and Midget's secondary finished 2022 as worst in the league in passing yards.[7][8] On February 7, passing game coordinator Tim Kelly was promoted to offensive coordinator, Charles London was hired as the quarterbacks coach from the Atlanta Falcons, and Chris Harris was hired as the defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks coach from the Washington Commanders.[9] Lori Locust was hired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the first full-time female coach in Titans history, alongside Justin Hamilton, as defensive quality control coaches.[9] Jason Houghtaling was promoted to offensive line coach, Luke Steckel was moved to run game analyst, Pat O'Hara was moved to pass game analyst, and Tony Dews was moved to tight ends coach.[9]

Organizational changes

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On January 18, 2023, the Titans hired San Francisco 49ers executive Ran Carthon as their new general manager.[10] The Titans had fired previous general manager Jon Robinson in December 2022 at the beginning of their seven-game losing streak.[11]

Roster changes

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Reserve/future free agent contracts

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PlayerPosition
Curtis BrooksDE
Shyheim CarterCB
Zack JohnsonG
Mason KinseyWR
John LeglueOT
Zach McCloudOLB
Thomas OdukoyaTE
Sam OkuayinonuOLB
Jayden PeevyDE
Justin RiggTE
Reggie RobersonWR
Andrew RupcichOT
Tyler ShelvinNT
Caleb ShudakK

The Titans signed 11 players to futures contracts on January 10, 2023. By January 23, the Titans had signed three additional players.[12]

Draft

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2023 Tennessee Titans Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
111Peter SkoronskiOTNorthwestern
233Will LevisQBKentuckyFrom Houston via Arizona
381Tyjae SpearsRBTulane
5147Josh WhyleTECincinnati
6186Jaelyn DuncanOTMarylandFrom Atlanta
7228Colton DowellWRUT Martin

Undrafted free agents

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The Tennessee Titans have currently signed 22 undrafted free agents.[13]

PlayerPositionSchool
Anthony KendallDBBaldwin-Wallace
Mo HasanQBUSC
Sammy WheelerLSKansas State
Jahleel BillingsleyTETexas
Shea PittsLBUCLA
Keenan AgnewDLSouthern Illinois
Eric GarrorCBLouisiana Lafayette
Tyreque JonesDBBoise State
Maxwell WorshipS/LBVanderbilt
Matthew JacksonLBEastern Kentucky
Tre'Shaun HarrisonWROregon State
Shakel BrownDLTroy
Thomas RushLBMinnesota
Kearis JacksonWRGeorgia
Trey WolffKTexas Tech
Jacob CopelandWRMaryland
John OjukwuOTBoise State
Caleb MurphyEDGEFerris State
TK McClendonEDGEEastern Kentucky
Steven Jones Jr.CBAppalachian State
Charles McClellandRBCincinnati
Otis Reese IVLBMississippi

Staff

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2023 Tennessee Titans staff

Front office

  • Owner – KSA Industries
  • Controlling owner – Amy Adams Strunk
  • President/CEO – Burke Nihill
  • General manager – Ran Carthon
  • Assistant general manager, strategy – Chad Brinker
  • Assistant general manager – Anthony Robinson
  • Vice president of football administration – Vin Marino
  • Director of college scouting – Jon Salge
  • Director of pro scouting – Brian Gardner
  • Assistant director of pro scouting – Kevin Turks
  • College scout – Matt Miller

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Shane Bowen
  • Outside linebackers – Ryan Crow
  • Inside linebackers – Bobby King
  • Inside linebackers assistant – Zak Kuhr
  • Defensive pass game coordinator/cornerbacks − Chris Harris
  • Safeties – Scott Booker
  • Defensive assistant – Clint McMillan
  • Defensive quality control – Justin Hamilton
  • Defensive quality control – Lori Locust

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Director of sports performance – Frank Piraino
  • Assistant director of sports performance – Brian Bell
  • Sports performance assistant – Tyler Rouse

Final roster

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2023 Tennessee Titans final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 19 inactive, 14 practice squad (+1 exempt)

Preseason

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The Titans' preseason opponents and schedule was announced in the spring.

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1August 12at Chicago BearsL 17–230–1Soldier FieldRecap
2August 19at Minnesota VikingsW 24–161–1U.S. Bank StadiumRecap
3August 25New England PatriotsW 23–72–1Nissan StadiumRecap

Regular season

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Schedule

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WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1September 10at New Orleans SaintsL 15–160–1Caesars SuperdomeRecap
2September 17Los Angeles ChargersW 27–24 (OT)1–1Nissan StadiumRecap
3September 24at Cleveland BrownsL 3–271–2Cleveland Browns StadiumRecap
4October 1Cincinnati BengalsW 27–32–2Nissan StadiumRecap
5October 8at Indianapolis ColtsL 16–232–3Lucas Oil StadiumRecap
6October 15Baltimore RavensL 16–242–4 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London)Recap
7Bye
8October 29Atlanta FalconsW 28–233–4Nissan StadiumRecap
9November 2at Pittsburgh SteelersL 16–203–5Acrisure StadiumRecap
10November 12at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 6–203–6Raymond James StadiumRecap
11November 19at Jacksonville JaguarsL 14–343–7EverBank StadiumRecap
12November 26Carolina PanthersW 17–104–7Nissan StadiumRecap
13December 3Indianapolis ColtsL 28–31 (OT)4–8Nissan StadiumRecap
14December 11at Miami DolphinsW 28–275–8Hard Rock StadiumRecap
15December 17Houston TexansL 16–19 (OT)5–9Nissan StadiumRecap
16December 24Seattle SeahawksL 17–205–10Nissan StadiumRecap
17December 31at Houston TexansL 3–265–11NRG StadiumRecap
18January 7Jacksonville JaguarsW 28–206–11Nissan StadiumRecap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at New Orleans Saints

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Week 1: Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans630615
Saints3310016

at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

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Week 2: Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
Chargers311010024
Titans01077327

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Week 3: at Cleveland Browns

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Week 3: Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans03003
Browns3107727

at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

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Week 4: Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Bengals30003
Titans3213027

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Week 5: at Indianapolis Colts

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Week 5: Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans3310016
Colts737623

at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

Game information

Week 6: vs. Baltimore Ravens

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NFL London games

Week 6: Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Ravens6120624
Titans3010316

at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England

Game information

Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons

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Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Falcons3061423
Titans777728

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: October 29
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 77 °F (25 °C)
  • Game attendance: 68,008
  • Referee: Clay Martin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Beth Mowins, James Lofton, Jay Feely and Amanda Guerra
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week 9: Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans3103016
Steelers733720

at Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 10: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Week 10: Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans30036
Buccaneers0710320

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Game information

Week 11: at Jacksonville Jaguars

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Week 11: Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans007714
Jaguars7614734

at EverBank Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: November 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 67,175
  • Referee: Brad Rogers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Amanda Renner
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers

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Week 12: Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Panthers037010
Titans7100017

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: November 26
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,493
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: vs. Indianapolis Colts

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Week 13: Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
Colts7693631
Titans10726328

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: December 3
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly sunny, 53 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,641
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan and AJ Ross
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Miami Dolphins

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Week 14: Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans01031528
Dolphins7031727

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 15: vs. Houston Texans

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Week 15: Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234OTTotal
Texans0367319
Titans6703016

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 48 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 66,219
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: vs. Seattle Seahawks

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Week 16: Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Seahawks0331420
Titans0100717

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 64 °F (18 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,181
  • Referee: Shawn Smith
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan and AJ Ross
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Houston Texans

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Week 17: Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Titans03003
Texans3173326

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 18: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

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Week 18: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period1234Total
Jaguars3100720
Titans7147028

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Standings

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Division

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AFC South
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(4) Houston Texans1070.5884–27–5377353W2
Jacksonville Jaguars980.5294–26–6377371L1
Indianapolis Colts980.5293–37–5396415L1
Tennessee Titans6110.3531–54–8305367W1

Conference

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#TeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division leaders
1Baltimore RavensNorth1340.7653–38–4.543.529L1
2[a][b]Buffalo BillsEast1160.6474–27–5.471.471W5
3[a]Kansas City ChiefsWest1160.6474–29–3.481.428W2
4Houston TexansSouth1070.5884–27–5.474.465W2
Wild cards
5[c]Cleveland BrownsNorth1160.6473–38–4.536.513L1
6[b][c]Miami DolphinsEast1160.6474–27–5.450.358L2
7Pittsburgh SteelersNorth1070.5885–17–5.540.571W3
Did not qualify for the postseason
8[d]Cincinnati BengalsNorth980.5291–54–8.574.536W1
9[d][e]Jacksonville JaguarsSouth980.5294–26–6.533.477L1
10[e]Indianapolis ColtsSouth980.5293–37–5.491.444L1
11[f]Las Vegas RaidersWest890.4714–26–6.488.426W1
12[f]Denver BroncosWest890.4713–35–7.488.485L1
13New York JetsEast7100.4122–44–8.502.454W1
14Tennessee TitansSouth6110.3531–54–8.522.422W1
15Los Angeles ChargersWest5120.2941–53–9.529.388L5
16New England PatriotsEast4130.2352–44–8.522.529L2
Tiebreakers[g]
  1. ^ a b Buffalo finished ahead of Kansas City based on head-to-head victory.
  2. ^ a b Buffalo finished ahead of Miami based on head-to-head sweep.
  3. ^ a b Cleveland finished ahead of Miami based on conference record.
  4. ^ a b Cincinnati finished ahead of Jacksonville based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Indianapolis (see below).
  5. ^ a b Jacksonville finished ahead of Indianapolis based on head-to-head sweep.
  6. ^ a b Las Vegas finished ahead of Denver based on head-to-head sweep.
  7. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.

References

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  1. ^ Derrick Henry ponders future after Titans eliminated from playoff contention, NBC Sports, December 17, 2023
  2. ^ "Titans fire head coach Mike Vrabel after six seasons". NFL.com. January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  3. ^ Wyatt, Jim (January 9, 2023). "Titans Part Ways With OC Todd Downing, OL Coach Keith Carter, Secondary Coach Anthony Midget and Offensive Skill Assistant Erik Frazier". TennesseeTitans.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  4. ^ Davenport, Turron (January 9, 2023). "Titans fire four assistants, including OC Todd Downing". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  5. ^ Moraitis, Mike (January 9, 2023). "Titans fans elated after Todd Downing gets fired". TitansWire.USAToday.com. USAToday. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  6. ^ Lomas, Will (January 9, 2023). "Tennessee Titans fire Todd Downing and give hope for 2023". Titansized.com. Fansided. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Moraitis, Mike (January 9, 2023). "Titans fire Todd Downing, Keith Carter among 4 coaches". TitansWire.USAToday.com. USAToday. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Kuharsky, Paul [@PaulKuharskyNFL] (January 9, 2023). "#Titans' final numbers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ a b c Wyatt, Jim (February 7, 2023). "Titans Elevate Tim Kelly to Offensive Coordinator While Making Several New Additions, and Changes". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Wyatt, Jim (January 18, 2023). "Titans Hire Former 49ers Director of Player Personnel Ran Carthon as the Team's New General Manager". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Wyatt, Jim (December 6, 2022). "Titans Part Ways with GM Jon Robinson". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Wyatt, Jim (January 10, 2023). "Titans Sign 11 Players to Reserve/Futures Contracts". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  13. ^ "Tracking the Titans' 2023 undrafted free agent signings". titanswire.usatoday.com. April 29, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
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