Craig Aukerman enters his fifth season with the Titans and his fourth season as special teams coach. The 2021 campaign is his 12th NFL season and his 22nd year coaching. He originally joined the Titans in 2017 as assistant special teams coach.

Craig Aukerman enters his fifth season with the Titans and his fourth season as special teams coach. The 2021 campaign is his 12th NFL season and his 22nd year coaching. He originally joined the Titans in 2017 as assistant special teams coach.

In 2020, Aukerman managed three punters, two kickers and two long snappers who saw playing time during the season. Punter Brett Kern's 59.5 percent (22 of 37) of punts placed inside the 20 was the best of any player with at least 30 punts in a season since 1991. Stephen Gostkowski's seven 50-yard field goals established a new franchise record, and Gostkowski's 46 extra points ranked fourth in club annals.

In 2019, Tennessee tied New England for the NFL lead with four total blocked kicks and punts (three field goals and one extra point). It was the team's highest number of total blocks in its "Titans era" (1999 to present). The Titans' three blocked field goals in 2019 were the most in the NFL and the most by the club since 1997.

Also in 2019, the Titans finished fourth in the NFL in net punting. Kern was named to his third consecutive Pro Bowl, and he added first-team Associated Press All-Pro honors. His 37 punts inside the 20 led the NFL, and his 43.1-yard net average ranked second in team history.

The 2019 Titans tied for sixth place in the NFL with only 14 special teams penalties, following a season in 2018 with just nine special teams penalties, which ranked second in the NFL behind Minnesota (eight). From 2000 through 2018, the lowest previous single-season penalty total for the Titans special teams units was 14 infractions in 2002. Only the Vikings had fewer total special teams flags than the Titans from 2018-19.

In 2018, the Titans set a new NFL record for kickoff return average (32.0), becoming the first team in NFL history to average more than 30.0 yards per kickoff return in a season. Darius Jennings' 31.7-yard kickoff return average set a new individual franchise record, and his 94-yard touchdown return at Miami was one of two special teams touchdowns on the season. The other came on a fake punt against Houston on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Byard to Dane Cruikshank.

Kern's 41.7-yard net average ranked second in team annals at the time (surpassed in 2019). His 39 punts placed inside the 20-yard line set a franchise record, and his 52.7 percent of punts (39 of 74) placed inside the 20 led the NFL.

In 2017, with Aukerman serving as assistant special teams coach, Kern's 44.6-yard net average ranked second in NFL history, and his 49.7-yard gross average was eighth in league annals. Both numbers led the NFL. Additionally, kicker Ryan Succop tied a franchise record with 136 points during the season, while his 35 field goals tied for second place in team history.

Aukerman joined the Titans after four seasons (2013-16) with the San Diego Chargers, first as an assistant special teams coach (2013-15) and then as the special teams coordinator (2016). In 2016, second-year kicker Josh Lambo led the NFL in touchbacks (67) and rookie punter Drew Kaser ranked 10th in the NFL for average (46.3).

Aukerman broke into the NFL as a defensive assistant for the Denver Broncos in 2010 and then joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in the same capacity in 2011. In 2012, he was an assistant special teams coach with the Jaguars.

Aukerman has 10 years of coaching experience on the collegiate level. He spent time coaching at Kent State (2009), Miami (Ohio) (2005-08 & 2001-02), Western Kentucky (2003-04) and University of Findlay (Ohio) (2000).

He was a two-time NAIA All-America at the University of Findlay, where he played defensive back and wide receiver from 1995-98.

Aukerman and his wife, Summer, have two sons: Cayden and Bryce.

Craig Aukerman's Coaching Timeline:

2018-21: Special Teams, Tennessee Titans

2017: Assistant Special Teams, Tennessee Titans

2016: Special Teams Coordinator, San Diego Chargers

2013-15: Assistant Special Teams, San Diego Chargers

2012: Assistant Special Teams, Jacksonville Jaguars

2011: Defensive Assistant, Jacksonville Jaguars

2010: Defensive Assistant, Denver Broncos

2009: Linebackers, Kent State

2005-08: Linebackers & Co-Special Teams Coordinator, Miami (Ohio)

2003-04: Linebackers & Special Teams Coordinator, Western Kentucky

2001-02: Graduate Assistant, Miami (Ohio)

2000: Wide Receivers, University of Findlay (Ohio)