Keith Carter is in his fourth season as the Titans offensive line coach, his ninth season coaching in the NFL and his 16th total season in coaching.
In 2020, while using three different starting left tackles, the Titans had the NFL's second-ranked rushing offense (168.1 yards per game), and the unit's 25 sacks allowed was the sixth-best number in the league. Three of the team's regulars on the offensive line by the end of the season established new career highs in starts: right tackle Dennis Kelly (16), left tackle David Quessenberry (six) and right guard Nate Davis (16). The unit helped Derrick Henry (2,027 rushing yards) lead the NFL in rushing for the second consecutive year and record the fifth-highest single-season rushing total in NFL history.
In 2019, the Titans offense finished third in the NFL in rushing (138.9 yards per game) with Henry leading the league in rushing yards (1,540). The offensive line protected NFL Comeback Player of the Year Ryan Tannehill as the veteran quarterback led the NFL with a 117.5 passer rating. Third-round rookie Nate Davis started 15 consecutive games (including playoffs) at right guard.
In 2018, a season in which the offense implemented a new blocking scheme, the Titans used five different starting offensive line combinations due to injuries. Nevertheless, the Titans had the seventh-ranked rushing offense in the NFL (126.4 yards per game), as Henry finished second in the AFC with 1,059 rushing yards and placed third in the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns. Left tackle Taylor Lewan was named to the Pro Bowl following the 2018 campaign.
Carter joined the Titans after three campaigns with the Atlanta Falcons. He spent 2015 and 2016 as Atlanta's assistant offensive line coach and 2017 as the running backs coach. The 2017 Falcons tied for the NFL's seventh-best rushing average (4.30 yards per carry) and tied for the 11th-highest total of carries of at least 10 yards (50). Running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman combined for 1,493 yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.
The offensive line for the 2016 NFC Champion Falcons protected NFL MVP quarterback Matt Ryan (4,944 passing yards and 38 touchdowns) and paved the way for the fifth-best rushing attack in the NFL (120.5 yards per game).
Prior to joining the Falcons, Carter was the offensive line/run game coach in 2014 at San Jose State, where the Spartans ran for 1,696 yards and 11 touchdowns while averaging 141.3 yards per game on the ground.
Carter tallied two seasons (2012-13) as the offensive quality control coach for the Seattle Seahawks, including Seattle's march to a Super Bowl XLVIII Championship at the end of the 2013 campaign.
Additionally, Carter had coaching stops at the University of San Diego (tight ends, 2009; offensive line, 2010-11), University of Redlands (offensive line, 2007-08), Wagner College (tight ends, 2006) and UCLA (undergraduate assistant, 2005). He played tight end, H-back and fullback at UCLA (2001-04).
A native of Downingtown, Pa., he is the grandson of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Gino Marchetti, who spent 13 years with the Baltimore Colts.
He and his wife, Kristin, have two daughters: Kayla and Kamryn.
Keith Carter's Coaching Timeline:
2018-21: Offensive Line, Tennessee Titans
2017: Running Backs, Atlanta Falcons
2015-16: Assistant Offensive Line, Atlanta Falcons
2014: Offensive Line/Run Game, San Jose State
2012-13: Offensive Quality Control, Seattle Seahawks
2010-11: Offensive Line, University of San Diego
2009: Tight Ends, University of San Diego
2007-08: Offensive Line, University of Redlands
2006: Tight Ends, Wagner College
2005: Undergraduate Assistant, UCLA
