Tennessee Titans: New GM Brings Hope to Music City
By Les Bailey
The Tennessee Titans took the first big step on Thursday to bring NFL legitimacy back to Music City when they hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneer director of player personnel Jon Robinson to be their new general manager.
The Titans brass parted ways with former GM Ruston Webster on January 4th, have been actively interviewing candidates and have settled on the Tennessee native who they feel can lead this franchise back to respectability in the NFL and chart a course to the playoffs and beyond.
Titans controlling co-owner Amy Adams Strunk led this search and interview process, and made the official announcement on Thursday morning.
“We are thrilled that Jon has agreed in principle to become our general manager,”
“As we visited with Jon and researched his career, his proven track record for scouting talent, leadership skills, and ability to build relationships make him an ideal candidate to lead our football operation. Jon is a proud Tennessean who is excited to be coming home, and we look forward to the future of our football team under his leadership.”
It’s unclear at this point whether Robinson will have any input in the continuing search to now fill the head coaching vacancy.
Adams, along with Kenneth Adams IV from the ownership group along with President Steve Underwood and Vin Marino Vice President of Football Operations have been in charge of interviewing candidates for both positions.
Jon Robinson brings a strong background in evaluating talent at both the collegiate and NFL level, something this team desperately needed going forward.
Robinson joined the Buccaneers after 12 seasons with the New England Patriots (2002-13). Robinson worked as New England’s director of college scouting (2009-13), and prior to that served as a regional scout and an area scout for the Patriots.
While with the Patriots, the team drafted players like receiver Julian Edelman, tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive back Devin McCourty, tackle Nate Solder and defensive end Chandler Jones, among others. During Robinson’s time with the Patriots, the organization won 10 division titles, four conference titles and two Super Bowls.
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He will be joining a team that is almost devoid of NFL talent, but has a franchise quarterback firmly in hand. When the new NFL year starts on March 9th, he will have close to $40 Million in Salary Cap space, and following a 3-13 season, will have the first pick in the NFL Draft, and first dibs on any players hitting the waiver wire.
As I said before, it is unclear if Robinson will have any input on the selection of new head coach, but one has to believe that with his New England Patriot background, Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels could be in play.
The 39 year-old OC had some problems with his only head coaching experience in Denver, but has matured and expressed an interest in the the Titans head coaching position.
The Titans can’t talk to McDaniels until the Patriots either win Super Bowl L or are eliminated from the playoffs.
Next: Jon Robinson was the best and right choice for the Tennessee Titans
Jon Robinson will have a busy spring, with the Senior Bowl, Free Agency and the 2016 Draft coming up, and told the press on Thursday:
“I am extremely grateful to Amy for this opportunity, and I am very excited for the chance to come home to Tennessee,” said Robinson. “I had a high comfort level with Amy, Kenneth (Adams IV), Steve (Underwood), and Vin (Marino) throughout the entire process, and I am ready to roll up my sleeves and go to work.”
Tennessee Titans fans should be excited with this hire, but all we can do is wait to see what happens next!