Latest news with #Fassel
USA Today
28-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans' Johnny Hekker on joining John Fassel: 'Dream come true'
The Tennessee Titans surprised quite a few fans when they decided to move on from punter Ryan Stonehouse. The young punter not only had a big leg, but he had also become a fan favorite during his time in Nashville. To replace Stonehouse, the Titans opted for consistency and added potentially one of the best punters in NFL history: Johnny Hekker. The 13-year veteran, known more for placement than a booming leg, can bring an added dimension to the special teams units that struggled to hold their own in 2024. Hekker recently spoke with Jim Wyatt and discussed his decision to join the Titans and why he left the Carolina Panthers for Nashville. Now heading into his 14th season, the choice was easy for the member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team; he jumped at an opportunity to be reunited with new Titans special teams coordinator John Fassel. "It was an opportunity to come and be somewhere where my contributions will hopefully help a team turn the page into a bright future," Hekker said. "And being reunited with Bones (Fassel) had a huge part to do with it, too, the impact he's had on my career, from my time with him, and him coaching against me. Even then, I could still pick his brain and still be a friend. We've always had a great relationship.' "So, the door being open to join him again was a dream come true. I'm just thankful to be on a team that's hungry to improve and turn the tide here. Excited about the future of the program. I'm excited to be a Titan." Hekker broke into the league with the Los Angeles Rams under the tutelage of Fassel, who was his special-teams coordinator. Fassel coached Hecker with the Rams while he was punting for the team from 2012 to 2019, and reuniting with him was a massive draw to Nashville. Still playing at a high level, Hekker is coming off another solid season in 2024, where he averaged 45.7 yards on 73 punts with a 41.5-yard net. But he is also excited about the possibility of showcasing his versatility, given his familiarity with Fassel's reputation as a trickster. For his career, he's completed 15-of-26 passes for 193 yards with a touchdown and one interception. Whether that happens is yet to be seen, but even without completing a pass, Hekker's presence should make for a more successful season for the Titans' punt coverage units.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys CB whose gaffe lost game signs with Titans to add on to $6 million in earnings
The key figure in one of the Cowboys' most painful losses of 2024 has found a new home. And he'll be reunited there with the coach who stood by him in his darkest moment. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye, who appeared in seven games for the Cowboys last season and made four starts, will sign with the Tennessee Titans, per NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The former fifth-round draft pick had been with the Lions, Giants, and Jaguars prior to joining Dallas's practice squad ahead of the 2024 season. Advertisement In Tennessee, Oruwariye will provide veteran experience in the secondary, but he will also likely be a regular contributor on special teams. Longtime special teams coordinator John Fassel will be in his first year with the Titans after serving in that role for five seasons with the Cowboys. Fassel was vocal in defending Oruwariye after a blocked punt turned disastrous late in the team's Week 14 primetime game last season against Cincinnati. With the score tied and two minutes to play, Cowboys linebacker Nick Vigil blocked a Bengals punt. When the ball managed to travel beyond the line of scrimmage, it became live. Left alone, it would have been whistled dead, and Dallas would have taken possession, already within kicker Brandon Aubrey's range. Advertisement But Oruwariye, who had just re-joined the active roster a few hours earlier, tried to grab the bouncing ball, unaware of what had happened. He mishandled the ball, and the Bengals recovered. They would go on to score moments later and seal the 27-20 win, sending Dallas to 5-8. "He just reacted like I would: 'see ball, get ball,'" Fassel told reporters afterward. "I think I attribute it to sometimes, special teams is the Wild, Wild West." Fassel and his Cowboys teammates were adamant that the fluke play shouldn't define Oruwariye as a player. "[I] asked him how he was doing, word for word, and he said, 'I'm doing good,'" Fassel said. "And I said 'Good, because you should be doing good, you have no reason to think that you cost us the game, or that you made a mistake, or that you let the team down.'" Advertisement Oruwariye had been the hero in Week 4, when his interception of a pass intended for Jalin Hyatt with five seconds to play put the final nail in the coffin of the Cowboys' 20-15 win over the Giants. The 29-year-old, who played is college ball at Penn State, has earned $6.8 million with four teams over six seasons in the NFL. Now Oruwariye he'll begin his seventh year looking to start over once again. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans! This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Ex-Cowboys CB Amani Oruwariye to join Titans, reunite with John Fassel
USA Today
13-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cowboys CB whose gaffe lost game signs with Titans to add on to $6 million in earnings
Cowboys CB whose gaffe lost game signs with Titans to add on to $6 million in earnings The key figure in one of the Cowboys' most painful losses of 2024 has found a new home. And he'll be reunited there with the coach who stood by him in his darkest moment. Cornerback Amani Oruwariye, who appeared in seven games for the Cowboys last season and made four starts, will sign with the Tennessee Titans, per NFL insider Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The former fifth-round draft pick had been with the Lions, Giants, and Jaguars prior to joining Dallas's practice squad ahead of the 2024 season. In Tennessee, Oruwariye will provide veteran experience in the secondary, but he will also likely be a regular contributor on special teams. Longtime special teams coordinator John Fassel will be in his first year with the Titans after serving in that role for five seasons with the Cowboys. Fassel was vocal in defending Oruwariye after a blocked punt turned disastrous late in the team's Week 14 primetime game last season against Cincinnati. With the score tied and two minutes to play, Cowboys linebacker Nick Vigil blocked a Bengals punt. When the ball managed to travel beyond the line of scrimmage, it became live. Left alone, it would have been whistled dead, and Dallas would have taken possession, already within kicker Brandon Aubrey's range. But Oruwariye, who had just re-joined the active roster a few hours earlier, tried to grab the bouncing ball, unaware of what had happened. He mishandled the ball, and the Bengals recovered. They would go on to score moments later and seal the 27-20 win, sending Dallas to 5-8. "He just reacted like I would: 'see ball, get ball,'" Fassel told reporters afterward. "I think I attribute it to sometimes, special teams is the Wild, Wild West." Fassel and his Cowboys teammates were adamant that the fluke play shouldn't define Oruwariye as a player. "[I] asked him how he was doing, word for word, and he said, 'I'm doing good,'" Fassel said. "And I said 'Good, because you should be doing good, you have no reason to think that you cost us the game, or that you made a mistake, or that you let the team down.'" Oruwariye had been the hero in Week 4, when his interception of a pass intended for Jalin Hyatt with five seconds to play put the final nail in the coffin of the Cowboys' 20-15 win over the Giants. The 29-year-old, who played is college ball at Penn State, has earned $6.8 million with four teams over six seasons in the NFL. Now Oruwariye he'll begin his seventh year looking to start over once again. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Titans announce John Fassel as special teams coach among staff changes
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have hired veteran assistant John Fassel as their special teams coordinator among some changes to coach Brian Callahan's staff announced Monday. Fassel replaces Colt Anderson, who lasted only one season on the job as special teams coordinator. Fassel will be joined by Rayna Stewart, who followed him from Dallas as assistant special teams coach. The Titans also hired Tony Oden as passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach on defense. Luke Stocker has been promoted to tight ends coach. Tennessee also announced that Chris Harris, who had been the passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, tight ends coach Justin Outten and assistant special teams coach Anthony Levine had expiring contracts and won't return. Fassel worked with the Cowboys between 2020 through the 2024 season, helping Dallas rank among the NFL's best on special teams. Three of his players earned six Pro Bowl berths, including returner KaVontae Turpin and kicker Brandon Aubrey this season. The Cowboys set an NFL record in averaging 32.1 yards per kickoff with Turpin leading the league with 33.5 yards per kickoff return. He also had a 60-yard punt return. Aubrey was second in field goals made. Fassel also has been special teams coordinator for the Rams between 2012 and 2019 and the Raiders between 2009-2011. He was the Rams' interim head coach for the final three games of the 2016 season. He started as a special teams assistant with Baltimore in 2005 through 2007 and was assistant special teams coordinator in 2008 in Oakland before being promoted. The son of late NFL coach Jim Fassel also was head coach at New Mexico Highlands from 2003 to 2004. Stewart worked with Fassel the past three seasons in Dallas. This is his third stint with the NFL franchise that drafted him in the fifth round in 1996. He also played for Miami and Jacksonville before going into coaching in 2007. Then-Titans coach Jeff Fisher hired him as a defensive quality control coach in 2009. Stewart also worked at Vanderbilt between 2015 and 2018. He went to Green Bay as special teams assistant in 2019 through 2021 before going to Dallas. Oden has 19 years of NFL experience coaching and eight more in college. He spent the past four seasons with the New York Jets as senior defensive assistant for cornerbacks. He also has coached with San Francisco in 2020, Miami in 2018-2019, Detroit between 2014-17, Tampa Bay in 2013, Jacksonville (2012), New Orleans between 2006-2011 and Houston in 2004-2005. Stocker started with Tennessee as an offensive assistant in 2023 under then-coach Mike Vrabel. Callahan had Stocker helping Outten with tight ends in 2024, and now he replaces Outten. Stocker played 11 seasons in the NFL with Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Atlanta and Minnesota after being a fourth-round draft pick in 2011 by the Buccaneers. ___ AP NFL: Teresa M. Walker, The Associated Press
Fox Sports
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Titans announce John Fassel as special teams coach among staff changes
Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have hired veteran assistant John Fassel as their special teams coordinator among some changes to coach Brian Callahan's staff announced Monday. Fassel replaces Colt Anderson, who lasted only one season on the job as special teams coordinator. Fassel will be joined by Rayna Stewart, who followed him from Dallas as assistant special teams coach. The Titans also hired Tony Oden as passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach on defense. Luke Stocker has been promoted to tight ends coach. Tennessee also announced that Chris Harris, who had been the passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach, tight ends coach Justin Outten and assistant special teams coach Anthony Levine had expiring contracts and won't return. Fassel worked with the Cowboys between 2020 through the 2024 season, helping Dallas rank among the NFL's best on special teams. Three of his players earned six Pro Bowl berths, including returner KaVontae Turpin and kicker Brandon Aubrey this season. The Cowboys set an NFL record in averaging 32.1 yards per kickoff with Turpin leading the league with 33.5 yards per kickoff return. He also had a 60-yard punt return. Aubrey was second in field goals made. Fassel also has been special teams coordinator for the Rams between 2012 and 2019 and the Raiders between 2009-2011. He was the Rams' interim head coach for the final three games of the 2016 season. He started as a special teams assistant with Baltimore in 2005 through 2007 and was assistant special teams coordinator in 2008 in Oakland before being promoted. The son of late NFL coach Jim Fassel also was head coach at New Mexico Highlands from 2003 to 2004. Stewart worked with Fassel the past three seasons in Dallas. This is his third stint with the NFL franchise that drafted him in the fifth round in 1996. He also played for Miami and Jacksonville before going into coaching in 2007. Then-Titans coach Jeff Fisher hired him as a defensive quality control coach in 2009. Stewart also worked at Vanderbilt between 2015 and 2018. He went to Green Bay as special teams assistant in 2019 through 2021 before going to Dallas. Oden has 19 years of NFL experience coaching and eight more in college. He spent the past four seasons with the New York Jets as senior defensive assistant for cornerbacks. He also has coached with San Francisco in 2020, Miami in 2018-2019, Detroit between 2014-17, Tampa Bay in 2013, Jacksonville (2012), New Orleans between 2006-2011 and Houston in 2004-2005. Stocker started with Tennessee as an offensive assistant in 2023 under then-coach Mike Vrabel. Callahan had Stocker helping Outten with tight ends in 2024, and now he replaces Outten. Stocker played 11 seasons in the NFL with Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Atlanta and Minnesota after being a fourth-round draft pick in 2011 by the Buccaneers. ___ AP NFL: recommended in this topic
