Gregg Williams Reinstated by NFL, Hired by Tennessee Titans

Dec 18, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams yells to his players during the game with the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Saints win 42-20. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Gregg Williams has officially been reinstated by the NFL as of this afternoon. The Tennessee Titans apparently already had a contract signed and it has now been approved by the NFL with Williams reinstatement. His official title? Senior assistant/defense.

We’re all curious as to how defensive coordinator Jerry Gray and Williams will work together, as it would seem that Williams is being brought in to help secure a defense that was one of the worst in the NFL in 2012. It’ll be interesting to see how the defense responds to a coach who was just suspended a year for a bounty system, from which we’ve heard the recording “Kill the head and the body will die.”

Here’s what Munchak had to say about the hiring today, via ESPN:

"I have known Gregg for over two decades and have seen him work his way up from a quality control coach to a head coach. He will bring a great deal of defensive knowledge and energy to our staff. The decision to bring him here only came after going through a thoughtful and thorough process."

The Titans certainly have lacked the killer instinct and hard hitting style that made them a defense to be feared in the early 2000’s. Hopefully Williams will bring back that style, minus killing people’s heads.

Williams has alway seemed to have a productive backfield, and as Paul Kuharsky has pointed out, safety was the key position. Hopefully Williams and Gray can go out there and get the Titans a decent strong safety, something that they’ve been lacking since Chris Hope left and Jordan Babineaux’s play went over the cliff.

Williams certainly comes with a bit of controversy, but his addition should help the Titans get their defensive act together. Maybe, just maybe, they can start back on their way to a defense that was feared just as much as the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Baltimore Ravens.

That’s the defense that gave the Titans their identity for so long, and they’ve been lost without it.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart