Titans Hire Ken Whisenhunt As Their New Head Coach

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter reports that the Tennessee Titans have hired Chargers OC Ken Whisenhunt as their new head coach.

• Jim Wyatt has confirmed the news and added that the Titans ultimately beat out the Lions for Whisenhunt.
• Ian Rapoport reports that the Lions owner was planning to send a private plane to pick Whisenhunt up in San Diego, but Whisenhunt told them not to.
  • Rapoport adds that the Titans wanted to speak with Seahawks DC Dan Quinn, but jumped to get Whisenhunt once progress was made.
  • Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk refutes the report that the Lions sent a plane for Whisenhunt, but he chose not to get on it. (Update: 7:44 pm)
  • Florio’s source with direct knowledge of the situation called the report “complete B.S.” (Update: 7:44 pm)
• Jim Wyatt mentions that the Titans met with Whisenhunt in San Diego on Friday and moved quickly to get a deal done.
  • Wyatt adds that the Titans interviewed with Bengals DC Mike Zimmer a second time before hiring Whisenhunt.
• Adam Schefter reports that Whisenhunt was “strongly impressed” with the Titans and about a potential working relationship with GM Ruston Webster.
• Jason La Canfora mentions that it appears as though the Titans spent some “big boy money” to land Ken Whisenhunt as their new head coach.  (Update: 9:12 pm)

It appeared as though Whisenhunt to the Lions was a done deal as reports for a few weeks now have said that an agreement was all but done.

Earlier today, Ian Rapoport mentioned that Whisenhunt is comfortable with the Titan’s front office as well as the city of Nashville. Other reports indicated that Whisenhunt was already lining up candidates to round out his coaching staff, which included guys already on the Chargers staff. With this in mind, there’s a chance that Whisenhunt’s staff could be in place in the near future.

• Ian Rapoport mentions that former Buccaneers QB coach John McNulty as someone to watch with regards to the Titans offensive coordinator position.
• McNulty spent time with Whisenhunt while in Arizona.

Whisenhunt helped turn the Chargers offense and Philip Rivers around this season and is widely respected around the league. It is surprising to see him pass on the Lions given that they do have talent on both sides of the ball and a franchise quarterback in place. This really speaks to Whisenhunt’s preference for an ideal front office situation.