Unsere Gaeste - Ecke » so I'm really excited

The Tennessee Titans kicked off their search for a new head coach Thursday with a pair of interviews – both defensive coordinators who’ve never been NFL head coaches.

The Titans confirmed they interviewed Houston’s Mike Vrabel and Carolina’s Steve Wilks. Tennessee is looking to replace Mike Mularkey Keith Yandle Jersey , fired Monday after he went 21- 22 and won the franchise’s first playoff game in 14 years.

Vrabel, 42, has never been a head coach at any level. He is coming off his first season as defensive coordinator for the Texans. Vrabel played 14 years in the NFL with Pittsburgh, New England where he won three Super Bowl titles and Kansas City before going into coaching. He started coaching in 2011 at his alma mater, Ohio State. He coached linebackers and defensive linemen.

Vrabel went to Houston in 2014 and coached linebackers with the Texans for three seasons before becoming coordinator. The Texans won the AFC South in 2015 and 2016 thanks to strong defenses. The unit slipped this season with the Texans’ defense decimated by injuries to players including J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus .

General manager Jon Robinson gave little indication Monday of what he’s looking for in the man who will be the Titans’ fourth head coach eight seasons and third in quarterback Marcus Mariota’s fourth season.

”Leader of men,” Robinson said of what he wants in a new head coach. ”Obviously, the things that are stamped out there on those pillars: team-first Brian Elliott Jersey , detailed, tough, dependable. One that’s going to, like I said, maximize the abilities of the players in all three phases of the game.”

Wilks has only been a head coach in college at Savannah State in 1999. His first season as defensive coordinator with the Panthers was 2017, but he has coached with Chicago, the Chargers and joined Carolina in 2012. Wilks was assistant head coach in 2015 and 2016.

Interviewing Wilks helped the Titans satisfy the league’s Rooney Rule Brian Gibbons Jersey , and Wilks also interviewed with the New York Giants about their opening. Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis certainly thinks Wilks has earned the right to be a head coach.

”He has done a tremendous job of coming in and taking over this defense and really giving us a chance to be successful,” Davis said.

—

AP Sports Writer Steve Reed contributed to this report from Charlotte.

—

Follow Teresa M. Walker at The Baltimore Ravens signed offensive lineman James Hurst to a four-year contract Monday, keeping him off the free agent market while providing stability in front of quarterback Joe Flacco.

Hurst started all 16 games in 2017, the fourth consecutive season he played in every game with Baltimore. He started at left guard in 15 games and at left tackle on Nov. 19 against Green Bay, subbing for the injured Ronnie Stanley.

Signed as a rookie free agent in 2014, the 26-year-old Hurst has been used at guard, tackle and on special teams.

"This is good news for our football team Colton Parayko Jersey ," coach John Harbaugh said. "James is a reliable, tough and versatile player who has played a lot of football for us. He has started at both tackle and guard, and all he has been is productive and someone who has made us better."

In 2017, the 6-foot-5, 317-pound Hurst was part of an offensive line that allowed only 27 sacks, tied with Minnesota for seventh fewest in the NFL.

By signing Hurst, the Ravens now have 10 unrestricted free agents.

"This feels great Justin Williams Jersey ," Hurst said. "I've been here four years already, so I'm really excited to come back for four more and build on what we started."

Also Monday, the Ravens freed some salary cap space by releasing cornerback Lardarius Webb.

Webb, who played nine seasons in Baltimore, wrote on Twitter: "Thank you Baltimore it's been a great run."

Carolina Panthers Elite Jerseys