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Former Titans QB Begins Head Coaching Career

A former Tennessee Titans quarterback has landed a new coaching job.
Zach Dimmitt|
Nov 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger (7) attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger (7) attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

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Tennessee Titans

Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Zach Mettenberger is taking the next step in his football journey.

According to Titans reporter Jim Wyatt, Mettenberger has been hired as the new head coach at Father Ryan High School in Nashville, which is only about a 15-minute drive from Nissan Stadium. The 33-year-old played two seasons for Tennessee a decade ago but will now be returning to where his NFL career began.

Originally a sixth-round pick by the Titans in the 2014 NFL Draft after a three-year career with the LSU Tigers, Mettenberger arrived to Tennessee expected to sit the bench as a little-used backup. Instead, he ended his rookie season as the team's leading passer despite appearing in just seven games and making six starts. The Titans finished the season with an abysmal 2-14 record, as Mettenberger went 0-6 as starter.

Mettenberger finished his Titans career with 14 appearances and 10 starts, losing all 10 games he started. Across these contests, he went 208 of 345 passing for 2,347 yards, 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions along with 14 carries for 12 yards and a rushing score.

The 2014 campaign remains the worst season the franchise has experienced record-wise since moving from Houston, but it wasn't all for nothing. Mettenberger proved to be the bridge between the Titans being one of the league's bottom-feeders to contending for an AFC Championship, as the team landed the No. 2 overall pick after his rookie year and selected Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota.

Though Mariota didn't live up to his monstrous expectations, his addition still helped spark Tennessee toward success, highlighted by an eventual appearance in the AFC Championship in 2019 after Ryan Tannehill had taken over as the starter. This came just five years removed from Mettenberger's rookie year.

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Zach Dimmitt
ZACH DIMMITT

Zach Dimmitt is the Deputy Editor for Texas Longhorns On SI and Texas A&M Aggies On SI. He also contributes as a writer for the On SI channels of the Oregon Ducks, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans. He was previously the editor-in-chief of Buffalo Bills on SI, Philadelphia Eagles on SI and Seattle Seahawks on SI. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Dimmitt received his Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin in 2022. He originally started with SI’s Fan Nation network in 2021, providing extensive coverage of the NFL and NBA along with college football and basketball. In that time, Dimmitt has published thousands of stories and has reached millions of people across multiple fan bases. You can follow him on X at @ZachDimmitt7

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