Former Titans ILB coach Tyrone McKenzie was fired: Report
The departure of Tennessee Titans inside linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie was the result of a firing, according to a new report.
UPDATE: There are now conflicting reports about what happened with Tyrone McKenzie, as ESPN’s Turron Davenport is reporting he was not fired by the team, contradicting a report by Paul Kuharsky.
I'm told by multiple sources the split between Titans and former ILB coach Tyrone McKenzie was mutual. He was not fired. It was a mutual decision. Tennessee's LBs, especially 6th-rnd pick David Long Jr. made progress under McKenzie. Now he'll work with... https://t.co/lGcQxFajDu
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 30, 2020
End of update
On Wednesday it was reported that Tennessee Titans inside linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie was leaving the team to join the Detroit Lions’ coaching staff.
John Glennon of The Athletic first reported McKenzie moving on, and then Brent Dougherty of 104.5 The Zone broke the news that he was going to Detroit.
As @glennonsports reported, Tyrone McKenzie is leaving the Titans. McKenzie will join the Detroit Lions coaching staff.
— Brent Dougherty (@brentdougherty) January 29, 2020
At first it seemed like this might have been McKenzie simply taking a new role with a new team, however now it appears he was actually fired, as Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky is now reporting.
Tyrone McKenzie was fired by the #Titans.
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) January 30, 2020
As far as specifics are concerned in regard to why McKenzie was fired, we don’t have those yet and there’s a chance we may never know.
So, why is this news?
For starters, McKenzie is a highly-respected coach who is very good at his job. If you need proof, just look at what the Titans have gotten out of their inside linebackers like Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans, and even David Long to an extent.
It seems odd that Tennessee would want to move on from a coach like that. The news about McKenzie is just one of two big pieces of information to come out about Tennessee’s plans on defense for 2020.
As ESPN’s Turron Davenport reported, it’s looking like Vrabel may not name a new defensive coordinator, instead opting to take a bigger role with the team’s defense, which could mean handling both head coaching and defensive coordinator duties.
The general feeling within the Titans facility is that Mike Vrabel isn't likely to name a DC. Expect Coach Vrabel to have a larger role with the defense. https://t.co/spEHFvXElp
— TURRON DAVENPORT (@TDavenport_NFL) January 30, 2020
Pro Football Network’s Benjamin Allbright is also reporting that Vrabel is in consideration to play the role of defensive coordinator, but that the team is “considering all options”.
Whether or not this situation has anything to do with McKenzie’s firing remains to be seen, but he was thought of as someone who could potentially take the vacant defensive coordinator position that was left open when Dean Pees retired.