Dean Pees' second (and final?) retirement made a few of his former players nostalgic Tuesday.
The Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator announced Monday he's calling it quits after 47 years in coaching, 12 of which came in the NFL.
Pees' first NFL job came with the New England Patriots, who hired him as their linebackers coach in 2004 before promoting him to defensive coordinator from 2006 to 2009.
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Pees' linebacking corps helped the Patriots win a Super Bowl in 2004, so to commemorate his retirement, ex-Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi dug up an awesome old photo of that unit.
That's quite the formidable group, featuring the likes of Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Ted Johnson and current Titans coach Mike Vrabel.
Here's the full roll call from Bruschi's 2004 photo (seemingly taken before Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville) from left to right:
Ryan Izzo, Rosevelt Colvin, Matt Chatham, Tully Banta-Cain, Willie McGinest, Roman Phifer, Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Don Davis and Ted Johnson.
That 2004 group spearheaded a dominant Patriots defense that allowed just 16.3 points per game (second-fewest in the NFL) and powered New England to a 14-2 regular season record.
McGinest also showed love for Pees, sharing Bruschi's photo along with a longer note for his former coach:
Current Patriots players may be equally happy to see Pees step down. The 70-year-old coach helped bounce New England from the playoffs on three separate occasions: twice with the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 and 2013 and once with the Titans in this year's AFC Wild Card Round.
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