Assistant Coaches Elevating Tennessee Titans Talent

In the NFL, a head coach sets the vision—but it’s the assistant coaches who turn that vision into on-field success, refining players’ skills, fixing weaknesses, and unlocking potential that even the most talented athletes might not know they have. Assistant Coaches Elevating Tennessee Titans Talent shines a light on the unsung heroes of the Titans’ organization: position coaches, coordinators, and specialists who have played a pivotal role in developing stars like Derrick Henry, revitalizing veterans like Denico Autry, and nurturing rookies like Jake Newman. These coaches don’t just teach plays—they build trust, tailor training to individual strengths, and create environments where players feel empowered to take risks and grow. For the Titans, who aim to compete in the tough AFC South, the expertise of their assistant staff isn’t just a luxury—it’s the difference between good players and great ones, and between playoff contention and mediocrity.

Assistant Coaches Elevating Tennessee Titans Talent begins with running backs coach Tony Dews, whose work with Derrick Henry has helped turn a dominant physical runner into a more versatile, complete player. When Dews joined the Titans in 2023, he recognized that Henry’s strength (breaking tackles, pushing through lines) was unmatched—but his game could benefit from small technical adjustments. Dews focused on refining Henry’s footwork: teaching him to make quicker cuts to avoid defenders, use his hands to fend off linebackers, and read defensive fronts more efficiently to find gaps. He also added pass-catching drills to Henry’s routine—something the running back had rarely prioritized—turning him into a reliable checkdown option for quarterbacks. “Tony doesn’t try to change who I am as a runner—he just makes me sharper,” Henry said. “He’ll watch film with me for hours, pointing out little things I can do to get an extra yard or avoid a tackle. Those small adjustments add up.” The results speak for themselves: in 2024, Henry career-high 28 receptions for 254 yards, while still rushing for over 1,500 yards. Dews’ ability to balance Henry’s natural strengths with targeted improvements has kept the running back relevant in an era where pass-catching backs are increasingly valued—proving that even established stars can grow with the right coaching.

A standout example in Assistant Coaches Elevating Tennessee Titans Talent is quarterbacks coach Pat O’Hara, who played a critical role in developing rookie Jake Newman after Newman joined the team as a third-round draft pick in 2025. O’Hara recognized that Newman had elite arm strength and athleticism—but struggled with decision-making under pressure and consistency in his throwing mechanics. To fix this, O’Hara created a personalized training plan: he used virtual reality (VR) simulations to put Newman in high-pressure game scenarios (like 4th-and-goal with 30 seconds left) and had him walk through his thought process aloud, teaching him to slow down and read defenses more calmly. He also worked on Newman’s mechanics, focusing on his foot placement and release point to improve accuracy—using video analysis to compare Newman’s throws to those of elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes. “Pat doesn’t just tell me what I’m doing wrong—he shows me how to fix it,” Newman said. “We’ll spend hours watching film of my throws, breaking down every step, every hand movement, every eye placement. It’s tedious, but it’s made me a better quarterback.” When Newman was forced into action mid-2025 due to injury, he led the Titans to four wins in six starts—throwing for 1,200 yards and 8 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions. O’Hara’s patient, detail-oriented approach turned a raw rookie into a reliable contributor in just a few months.

Assistant Coaches Elevating Tennessee Titans Talent also highlights the work of defensive line coach Terrell Williams, who has revitalized the career of veteran Denico Autry and helped develop young defensive ends like Rashad Weaver. Williams’ coaching philosophy centers on “technique over strength”—teaching his players to use their hands, hips, and footwork to beat offensive linemen, rather than relying solely on brute force. For Autry, who joined the Titans in 2024 after a slump with the Las Vegas Raiders, Williams focused on refining his pass-rush moves: teaching him to use a “swim move” to get past tackles, a “spin move” to evade blocks, and a “bull rush” to push linemen back into quarterbacks. He also added film study sessions where Autry analyzed the tendencies of opposing offensive tackles—learning their strengths (e.g., quick feet) and weaknesses (e.g., poor balance) to exploit them on game day. “Terrell changed how I approach pass rushing,” Autry said. “I used to just run at the tackle and hope for the best. Now I have a plan for every play, every opponent.” In 2024, Autry recorded 11 sacks—his highest total in five years—while Weaver, a second-year player, added 7 sacks under Williams’ guidance. For the Tennessee Titans, Williams’ ability to maximize both veterans and young players has turned the defensive line from a weakness into a strength—critical for stopping AFC South rivals like the Jacksonville Jaguars’ running game.

Another key figure in Assistant Coaches Elevating Tennessee Titans Talent is special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman, whose work has transformed the Titans’ special teams unit from one of the NFL’s worst to one of its most reliable. When Aukerman joined the team in 2023, the Titans ranked 31st in special teams DVOA (a metric that measures efficiency); by 2024, they had climbed to 8th. Aukerman focused on small, impactful changes: he improved the kickoff coverage unit by teaching players to take better angles to the returner, refined punter Ryan Stonehouse’s technique to increase hang time (giving coverage teams more time to get downfield), and worked with placekicker Nick Folk on his consistency in high-pressure situations (like game-winning field goals). He also emphasized special teams as a “path to playing time” for young players—encouraging rookies and backups to take pride in the unit, rather than seeing it as a chore. “Craig makes special teams matter,” Stonehouse said. “He doesn’t treat it like an afterthought—he treats it like any other phase of the game, with the same attention to detail and intensity. That makes everyone want to work harder.” In 2024, the Titans’ special teams unit scored two touchdowns (one on a punt return, one on a kickoff return) and allowed zero—while Folk made 92% of his field goals, including a game-winning 52-yarder against the Indianapolis Colts. For the Tennessee Titans, Aukerman’s work has turned special teams into a competitive advantage—something that can swing close games in their favor.

Looking ahead, Assistant Coaches Elevating Tennessee Titans Talent is a reminder that the Tennessee Titans’ success isn’t just about the players on the field or the head coach calling the shots—it’s about the entire coaching staff working together to elevate talent at every position. Whether it’s Dews refining Henry’s footwork, O’Hara developing Newman’s decision-making, Williams maximizing Autry’s pass-rush skills, or Aukerman turning around special teams, these assistant coaches have proven that expertise, patience, and personalized attention can unlock potential no one else sees. As the Titans look to build a sustainable contender in the AFC South, retaining and empowering these assistant coaches will be just as critical as signing star players or drafting high picks. “Good assistant coaches make everyone better—players, other coaches, even the head coach,” Titans head coach Brian Callahan said. “They’re the backbone of our organization. Without them, we can’t win.” Assistant Coaches Elevating Tennessee Titans Talent isn’t just about celebrating unsung heroes—it’s about recognizing that in football, as in life, success is a team effort—and every coach, no matter their title, plays a role in building something great.