The Browns have given defensive coordinator Ray Horton permission to seek employment elsewhere and the Titans are reportedly ready to take advantage of that opportunity.
Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Horton is newly hired Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt’s first choice to run the defense in Tennessee. That’s hardly a surprising choice given that Horton ran the defense during Whisenhunt’s final two years as the head coach in Arizona and the two men also worked together on the Steelers staff before Whisenhunt got the Cardinals job.
With offensive coordinator Norv Turner reportedly interviewing for the same job on Mike Zimmer’s staff in Minnesota, the Browns could be in position to clear both spots on the staff for their next coach without having to buy out any time left on their contracts.
Mortensen also reports that Whisenhunt would like to hire Chargers tight ends coach Jason Michael as the offensive coordinator. Michael would need permission from San Diego to interview for the post. John McNulty, who served as a quarterbacks coach under Whisenhunt in Arizona, has also been mentioned as a possibility for the job. Whisenhunt said Tuesday that he’d be calling the plays on offense regardless of who winds up in the job.
