NASHVILLE – Travis Smith had a connection with Titans head coach Brian Callahan from their one season together with the Raiders in 2018.
Smith had never worked with Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson.
Earlier this offseason, when Callahan was looking to add a defensive run game coordinator to his staff, Smith was interested in the job.
During the interview process, he immediately felt like Tennessee would be a good spot.
The feeling was mutual.
"When I first met with Dennard, I really loved his energy and his demeanor, disposition," Smith said before Tuesday's OTA. "I was really excited about what he was doing here. So, it's been pretty awesome coming here and meeting the rest of the staff and getting to work with everyone."
Smith joined the Titans this offseason after spending three seasons (2022-24) as the defensive line coach for the Chicago Bears. In 2023, the Bears led the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed (1,468 yards), fifth in yards per carry (3.78) and second fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (8). Defensive end Montez Sweat earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2023, totaling 12.5 sacks split between Washington (6.5) and Chicago (6.0). In 2024, Chicago ranked 16th in sacks (40) with 16 players registering at least one sack.
Prior to joining the Bears, Smith spent 10 seasons (2012-21) with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders, serving in a number of roles, from assistant defensive line (2020-21), defensive quality control (2018-19, 2015-16), outside linebackers (2017), and defensive assistant (2012-14).
In Tennessee, the Titans are hoping Smith's experience and knowledge can help a defense that finished 26th in the NFL in run defense in 2024.
"Travis is really a unique coach for us and a guy that I'm really happy that we have here," Callahan said. "He's been a D-line coach in the league. He's done a really nice job with the places he's been. He has been under some really good coaches in his career. He is just a good perspective for us to have. A different set of views as far as the run game goes and the front in general. We're doing a lot more of the front work together this year with the interior and the outside linebackers, which is I think been really beneficial. And Travis is a really unique voice and perspective who's got a lot of experience, works really well with Rock (Tracy Rocker) and with Ben (Bloom), just sort of fortified that position for us. Just another set of eyes, experiences and coaching ability that I think can really elevate us and so far, I've been really pleased with how those guys have worked, what they've done together, and the strides that we've made over the course of OTAs."
The Titans allowed 133.9 rushing yards per game on defense in 2024, allowing 4.53 rushing yards per play, which was 21st in the NFL.
Overall, the Titans finished 2nd in the NFL on defense, allowing just 311.2 yards per game.
Smith will preach effort and technique while working with others on the defensive staff.
So far, he's liked what he's seen during the offseason work.
"The one thing being new to the team, I love the energy and the enthusiasm," Smith said. "You feel the work ethic, and you feel the daily grind, so that is what has been really exciting so far.
"Effort is first, without effort it doesn't matter how talented you are. That facet of the game, and the consistency of that, is No.1. Once you apply all the other things, the technique, the fundamentals, the hand placement, the pad level, but don't lose the effort, I think that is what creates value in individual players, and as a group."
