Tennessee Titans: Mike Vrabel releases statement on hiring of Jim Haslett

Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel released a statement on the hiring of inside linebackers coach, Jim Haslett.

The newest addition to the Tennessee Titans’ coaching staff is veteran coach Jim Haslett, who will assume the duties of inside linebackers coach for the 2020 season.

The position had been vacant since former inside linebackers coach Tyrone McKenzie left the team to join the Detroit Lions coaching staff.

Head coach Mike Vrabel, who played under Haslett when he was the defensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1997 to 1999, released a statement about the hiring of his former coach, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport.

"“Adding quality coaches to our staff has always been my priority with the ability to teach, develop and inspire,” Titans coach Mike Vrabel said in a statement. “I have known Jim (Haslett) since my rookie season at Pittsburgh and was impressed with how he taught and developed the players on our defense. Over his career, he has experience and success as a head coach, defensive coordinator and linebacker coach.”"

Haslett brings a ton of NFL experience with him to the Titans, as he has been a defensive coordinator for 12 years and a head coach for another six years. His last job was with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2016 to 2018 where he was also the inside linebackers coach.

Davenport also points out that Haslett’s experience will be important to Vrabel with the Titans’ head coach calling plays on the defensive side of the ball next season.

Haslett could also be Vrabel’s extra eyes and ears on game day on top of being the inside linebackers coach, which will be important with Vrabel staring into a play sheet.

As far as being the inside linebackers coach is concerned, Haslett enters a job that will see him coaching an talented group.

Jayon Brown has already established himself as one of the better coverage linebackers in the NFL, while Rashaan Evans took a step in the right direction in 2019. Both players still have a lot of growing to do, but the sky’s the limit for how good they can be.

Adding to those two, David Long also looked like a promising young linebacker last season and really shined in the divisional round game against the Baltimore Ravens.

Haslett will now play a big role in the development of those three players, also.