Get To Know New Titans’ Defensive Backs Coach Chris Harris
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans brought in a lot of outside talent to the coaching staff prior to the 2023 season. We saw additions on the offensive side of the ball like Charles London and Justin Outten and some on the defensive side of the ball like Lori Locust and Justin Hamilton, but the biggest addition on either side of the ball might be new defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator Chris Harris.
Harris has a background similar to a lot of the hires the Titans have made this offseason, not only on the coaching staff, but in the front office as well. Like Ran Carthon, Chad Brinker and Tim Kelly, to name a few, Harris was a college football player. Harris spent five years(one redshirt) at Louisiana-Monroe and was a four-year starter as a cornerback.
Unlike some of the college players mentioned above though, Harris had a decently long NFL career. He played for eight seasons with four teams(Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars). Harris amassed 439 tackles, 16 interceptions and one sack during his career. Harris retired from the NFL in 2013.
After a nice career in the league, Harris transitioned into coaching. He was hired by the Chicago Bears as a defensive quality control coach two days after his retirement as a player. Harris was with the Bears for two seasons, but was not retained in 2015. Harris then made his way to the west coast where he became the assistant defensive backs coach of the then San Diego Chargers. Harris was in that role for the Chargers until 2020.
In 2020, Harris went to the other coast to join the Washington Commanders as their defensive backs coach. The first time he had total control over an entire position group. Harris did not disappoint. He spent three seasons in Washington and the Commanders’ defense was excellent during that time. During those three seasons the Washington defense ranked highly in a number of categories.
Washington was eighth in passing yards allowed giving up only 213.1 yards per contest in that three year span. In 2020, Washington gave up the second-lowest passing yards allowed(3068 yards). In 2022, Washington’s defense was the fourth best passing defense, only giving up 3252 yards in the air. Washington also saw Harris develop multiple young defensive backs such as Kendall Fuller, Kamren Curl, Fabian Moreau, Benjamin St. Juste, Darrick Forrest and Rachad Wildgoose.
This all bodes well for a Tennessee passing defense that has severely struggled in recent seasons under Mike Vrabel. Over the last three season the Titans’ pass defense has ranked in the bottom ten in pass yards allowed including being dead last in 2022, giving up 4,671 yards. The Titans desperately need the special sauce that Harris can bring to the pass defense.
Not only that, but the Titans have a set of young defensive backs that could benefit from Harris’ magic touch. Players like Kristian Fulton, Roger McCreary, Elijah Molden, Caleb Farley and Tre Avery are all still within their first four seasons or on their original rookie contract. Any schematic advantage Harris brings could end up being secondary(no pun intended) to his ability to develop these young players.
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