Tennessee Titans hire Ken Whisenhunt to be next head coach
In what could be considered a mild surprise, Ken Whisenhunt will be named the Tennessee Titans’ next head coach, per multiple reports. That news comes after days of speculation that the ex-Chargers offensive coordinator was the frontrunner for the Detroit Lions job.
Whisenhunt interviewed with the Lions, Titans and Cleveland Browns last week, while also helping to prep San Diego for a playoff game against Denver. League rules required any teams interested in plucking Whisenhunt from the Chargers’ staff to hold off until the AFC wild card was eliminated from the postseason. Once that occurred Sunday, the Titans moved quickly.
The 51-year-old Whisenhunt was in high demand due to the relative success he delivered during six seasons as the Cardinals’ head coach. He posted just a 45-51 record during that stretch but led the team to a pair of playoff appearances and one NFC title before QB Kurt Warner retired — a decision that left the Cardinals floundering at the all-important position for the duration of Whisenhunt’s tenure.
Whisenhunt’s work with Warner, as well as with Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh (Whisenhunt was the O.C. there from 2004-06) and this season helping Philip Rivers’ revival, stood out as one of the crown jewels on his resume. In Tennessee, he’s likely to inherit Jake Locker as his starting QB. Locker played well early in 2013, posting a 4-3 record, but then suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury. He is expected to be ready in time for training camp, if not before.
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