Frank Bush is in his 41st overall NFL season as a player (1985-86), scout (1987-91) and coach (1992-present). He rejoined the Titans as linebackers coach in 2024, beginning his third coaching stint with the franchise that also drafted him as a player in 1985.

In 2024, Bush helped newcomer Kenneth Murray Jr. lead the defense with 95 total tackles. Bush's group was forced to overcome a significant number of games missed due to injuries to Murray (three games), Jack Gibbens (seven), Otis Reese IV (four) and Chance Campbell (17) while also absorbing the midseason trade of starter Ernest Jones IV.

Bush spent three seasons coaching linebackers with the Atlanta Falcons from 2021 to 2023. In his final season there, his platoon was part of an overall unit that ranked eighth in passing defense (202.9 opponent yards per game), third in third-down efficiency (33.8 percent) and fourth in red-zone efficiency (45.3 touchdown percent). Kaden Elliss logged a career-high 17 starts and placed second on the squad with a career-high 122 tackles.

In 2022, Atlanta's defense led the league in fewest penalties per game (1.06) and limited opponents to the second-fewest second half points per game, allowing an average of only 7.9 points after halftime. Under Bush's guidance, Rashaan Evans (159) and Mykal Walker (107) both set single-season career highs for total tackles. In Evans' first season with Atlanta, he finished with the sixth-most total tackles in the NFL and had double-digit tackles in a career-high eight games.

In 2021, Bush's first season coaching linebackers in Atlanta, Foye Oluokun finished with a league-leading 192 tackles, the most by any player in a single season since at least 2000. His 12 games with double-digit tackles were the most by a Falcon in a single season since 2000. Oluokun also tied for the team lead with three interceptions.

Prior to joining Atlanta's staff, Bush spent two seasons (2019-20) with the New York Jets as assistant head coach defense/linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator for the final four games of the 2020 season. Bush's defense held the Rams and Browns offenses to 20 and 16 points, respectively, leading to the Jets' only two wins of the season. From his linebacker corps in 2020, Neville Hewitt led the team with 131 tackles (89 solo), including six for a loss, four passes defensed and one forced fumble.

Prior to joining the Jets, Bush served two seasons with the Dolphins as the team's assistant head coach/linebackers coach (2017-18). During the 2018 campaign, linebacker Kiko Alonso finished tied for 10th in the league in total tackles (125) after finishing 13th a season earlier.

Bush spent four years as the linebackers coach with the Rams in St. Louis (2013-15) and Los Angeles (2016). He helped Alec Ogletree finish ninth among all NFL linebackers in total tackles (408) in just 52 games played in that span, while James Laurinaitis (335) finished 20th in just 48 games (2013-15). Ogletree's 11 forced fumbles were tied for the fourth-most among all linebackers in that period, while his five interceptions ranked tied for eighth and his 33 passes defensed were tied for second-most. Additionally, Bush helped Mark Barron, selected seventh overall in 2012 as a safety, switch to linebacker in the middle of the 2015 season. That season, Barron finished with 117 tackles, which ranked second on the team.

Returning to the Oilers/Titans organization in 2011, Bush spent two seasons in Tennessee (2011-12) and helped a trio of young linebackers—Akeem Ayers, Colin McCarthy and Zach Brown—earn starting roles. In 2011, Ayers, a second-round pick, became the first Titans rookie defender

to start all 16 games since 2002. Ayers followed his rookie performance by leading the club in tackles during his second year (110) while also ranking second with six sacks. McCarthy, a fourth-rounder in 2011, led the defense in tackles for loss as a rookie (eight) and was named a team captain in his second campaign. Brown, a second-round selection in 2012, was the only player to finish among the top five 2012 rookies in interceptions (three interceptions tied for fourth) and sacks (5.5 sacks tied for fifth).

Bush spent four seasons with the Texans, the first two as a senior defensive assistant (2007-08), working primarily with the defensive line, before serving as the team's defensive coordinator (2009-10). During his time in Houston, he saw the emergence of defensive end Mario Williams and linebackers DeMeco Ryans and Brian Cushing as Pro Bowl players, with Cushing earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2009.

Before joining the Texans, Bush spent three seasons (2004-06) with Arizona as the linebackers coach, adding the assistant head coach title in 2006. While he was with the Cardinals, Karlos Dansby, a second-round rookie in 2004, produced three-year totals of 222 tackles, 17.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and four interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. In that span, he was one of only four players to produce at least 200 tackles, 15.0 sacks, five forced fumbles and four interceptions and the only one to score multiple touchdowns.

In his time with Denver (1995-2003), Bush earned two Super Bowl rings (XXXII and XXXIII), serving several different roles, including special teams coach (2001-03), secondary/nickel coach (2000) and linebackers coach (1995-99).

A three-year starter at North Carolina State, he was selected in the fifth round by the Oilers in the 1985 NFL Draft. A starter at linebacker as a rookie, Bush earned All-Rookie honors before an injury in his second season and subsequent diagnosis of a narrow spinal canal forced an early end to his playing career.

Following his on-field career with Houston, he joined the team as a college scout for five seasons (1987-91) before transitioning to the coaching staff, initially as the team's linebackers coach (1992) and then as the defensive quality control/linebackers coach (1993-94).

Bush was born in Athens, Ga., and is married to Stephanie.

FRANK BUSH TIMELINE

COACHING

2024-25: Linebackers – Tennessee Titans

2021-23: Linebackers – Atlanta Falcons

2019-20: Assistant Head Coach Defense/Linebackers – New York Jets

2017-18: Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers – Miami Dolphins

2013-16: Linebackers – St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams

2011-12: Linebackers – Tennessee Titans

2009-10: Defensive Coordinator – Houston Texans

2007-08: Senior Defensive Assistant – Houston Texans

2006: Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers – Arizona Cardinals

2004-05: Linebackers – Arizona Cardinals

2001-03: Special Teams – Denver Broncos

2000: Secondary/Nickel – Denver Broncos

1995-99: Linebackers – Denver Broncos

1993-94: Defensive Quality Control/Linebackers – Houston Oilers

1992: Linebackers – Houston Oilers

1987-91: College Scout – Houston Oilers

PLAYING

1985-86: Linebacker – Houston Oilers