The Tennessee Titans have made significant changes to their coaching staff by appointing Travis Smith as the new defensive run game coordinator and elevating Lori Locust to a defensive assistant coach. These announcements were made by the team on Tuesday.

Travis Smith joins the Titans after a successful three-year stint with the Chicago Bears, where he served as the defensive line coach. Under Smith’s guidance, the Bears led the NFL in rushing yards allowed and ranked fifth in yards per carry, also conceding the second-fewest rushing touchdowns, which amounted to eight. Additionally, Chicago’s defense logged 40 sacks, placing them 16th in the league. Prior to his tenure with the Bears, Smith accumulated ten years of experience with the Raiders in various defensive roles, including defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach. His coaching career began in 2010 at Santa Monica Junior College, followed by a year at Colorado in 2011.

Lori Locust has been a part of the Titans’ organization for the last two seasons, contributing as a defensive quality control assistant in 2024. Her promotion to a defensive assistant coach comes as head coach Brian Callahan continues to adjust his coaching staff following his inaugural season with Tennessee.

These strategic hires aim to enhance the Titans’ defensive capabilities as the team prepares for future challenges. The addition of experienced coaches like Smith and Locust indicates a focus on strengthening the team’s overall performance.