Here are four things to know about new Tennessee Titans secondary coach, Anthony Midget.
The Tennessee Titans have found their man to replace recently-departed secondary coach Kerry Coombs in Anthony Midget, who held the same position with the Houston Texans.
Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle broke the news of the hiring of Midget, and it was later confirmed by Titans beat writer, Paul Kuharsky.
My understanding is Bill O’Brien gave #Texans DB coach Anthony Midget permission to interview for same post with #Titans. When Mike Vrabel hired him, per @AaronWilson_NFL, Houston promoted D'Anton Lynn, son of #Chargers coach Anthony Lynn.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) January 29, 2020
Here’s what you need to know about the Titans’ new secondary coach (info courtesy of HoustonTexans.com and GeorgiaStateSports.com).
1. Three-year starter at Virginia Tech
Midget’s best season came in his Senior year in 1999 when he totaled five interceptions in 12 games. Virginia Tech went on to play in the BCS National Championship Game that season, but lost Florida State.
He was named a third-team All-American and first-team All-Big East for his efforts. He was also selected to the Big East All-Academic team and graduated with a degree in sociology.
2. Short-lived pro career
Midget was drafted in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons, but never played in a game. He also spent two seasons on the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
3. College coaching career
Midget’s first foray into coaching came at Lake Worth High School in Florida, where he was an assistant head coach, defensive backs coach, running backs coach and defensive coordinator during from 2002 through 2006. In 2007, he became a graduate assistant at Virginia Tech.
From 2008 through 2011, Midget was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at Georgia State. In 2012, he became the defensive coordinator on top of being the defensive backs coach.
In 2013, Midget was hired by Marshall as a defensive assistant, but before he coached in a game there he was hired by Penn State to serve as the safeties coach.
4. Coached with Mike Vrabel in Houston
The hire of Midget comes from his connection with Titans head coach, Mike Vrabel, as the pair were on the same coaching staff in Houston.
Midget was the assistant defensive backs coach from 2014 through 2017, and then the defensive backs coach from 2018 through 2019. Vrabel was on the same staff as the linebackers coach from 2014 through 2016, and then as the defensive coordinator in 2017.
5. Texans’ pass defense
In his two years as the defensive backs coach for the Texans, Midget oversaw a Houston pass defense that ranked No. 28 and No. 29. Of course, that can’t really be blamed on Midget because the Texans’ secondary wasn’t exactly loaded with talent.
Midget will have the benefit of working with a much more talented secondary in Tennessee.