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Jordan_Randy

Randy Jordan

Running Backs

Biography

Randy Jordan is in his first season with the Titans and his 12th season coaching in the NFL. He arrived in Tennessee with 21 total years of coaching experience in addition to a nine-year NFL playing career as a running back.

Prior to joining the Titans, Jordan spent 10 seasons (2014-23) as the running backs coach for the Washington Commanders and added the title of senior offensive assistant in 2023.

The Commanders ranked seventh in the NFL in 2023 with an average of 4.43 rushing yards per attempt. Second-year running back Brian Robinson Jr. surpassed the 1,000-yard scrimmage mark for the first time in his career, leading the team with 733 rushing yards to go along with 368 receiving yards for a total of 1,101 scrimmage yards. Robinson also led the club with nine total touchdowns (five rushing and four receiving).

In 2022, Jordan aided the rookie development of Robinson Jr., who played in 12 games and had 205 carries for 797 yards and two rushing scores. Robinson Jr.'s average of 66.4 rushing yards per game was second among NFL rookie running backs. Fellow running back Antonio Gibson had five total touchdowns and reached 3,000 career scrimmage yards.

In 2021, Gibson reached 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career. The second-year player under Jordan's tutelage led the NFC with 258 rushing attempts and finished second in the conference with 1,037 rushing yards. He also had a career-high 1,331 scrimmage yards (1,037 rushing, 294 receiving) with 10 touchdowns (seven rushing, three receiving). Gibson's 21 offensive touchdowns in his first two NFL seasons were the most in franchise history, and he was the first Washington player with consecutive 10-touchown seasons since running back Stephen Davis from 1999 to 2000.

In 2020, Jordan contributed to the development of Gibson in his rookie campaign as well as veteran running back J.D. McKissic. Under Jordan's direction, Gibson's 11 rushing touchdowns were the second most by a rookie in franchise history, and he became only the second Washington player to rush for 11 touchdowns and record 1,000-plus scrimmage yards in their rookie season (Alfred Morris). Gibson and McKissic each finished with over 950 scrimmage yards, marking the second time in franchise history two running backs achieved the feat, and the first time since 1983.

In 2019, Jordan directed a group of running backs that included veterans Adrian Peterson and Chris Thompson. Peterson finished this season with 1,040 scrimmage yards and rushed for five touchdowns. With 211 carries, Peterson became the sixth player in NFL history to tally 200 or more carries at 34 years or older. Thompson paced the Washington backs with 42 receptions for 378 yards, including a pair of seven-reception games (Weeks 1 and 14).

In 2018, Jordan was instrumental in Peterson having his best season since 2015. Peterson finished the season ranked fifth in rushing attempts (251), eighth in rushing yards (1,042) and third in fourth quarter rushing yards (332). Peterson also had the longest touchdown run of his career with a 90-yarder against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.

In 2017, while overseeing a group that was ravaged by injury, Jordan was called upon to prepare eight different running backs for game action, tied with Arizona for the most in the NFL. The group was particularly efficient as receivers out of the backfield, accounting for 885 receiving yards, the fourth most in the NFL and the most by a group Washington running backs since 2000 (1,127). Jordan also presided over a breakout 2017 campaign for Chris Thompson, who led the squad in both rushing and receiving yards prior to suffering a season-ending injury in Week 11. Thompson recorded only the sixth season in franchise history with at least 275 rushing yards and at least 500 receiving yards and was one of six NFL players to accomplish the feat in 2017, though Thompson accomplished the feat in 10 games while the other five players all appeared in at least 15 contests.

Jordan's hard-nosed approach to the position was evident in the team's running backs in 2016, a year in which Washington gained 1,058 of its rushing yards after contact, second-most in the NFL. Jordan oversaw the development of rookie free agent Rob Kelley, who ascended to the starting role mid-year and finished the season as the team's leader in rushing attempts (168), rushing yards (704) and rushing touchdowns (six).

In 2015, Jordan oversaw a rotating stable of backs that included workhorse Alfred Morris (202 carries for 751 yards with one touchdown), third-round pick Matt Jones (144 carries for 490 yards with three touchdowns) and Thompson (gained 6.2 yards per carry on 35 attempts). The group also contributed heavily in pass protection, helping decrease the offense's sack total from 58 in 2014 to 27 in 2015.

In his first season in Washington in 2014, Jordan helped Morris earn his second consecutive Pro Bowl berth, making Morris the first Washington running back selected to consecutive Pro Bowls since Stephen Davis in 1999 and 2000. Morris joined Davis as the only backs in team history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Jordan's work was also evident in the play of fullback Darrel Young, who matched his career highs in rushing touchdowns (three) and receiving touchdowns (two) en route to a career-high five total touchdowns in 2014.

Before joining Washington, Jordan spent two years (2012-13) as the running backs coach at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina. In his first season with UNC in 2012, Jordan's Tar Heels averaged 193.8 rushing yards per game, the third most in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the program's highest average since 1994. Tailback Giovani Bernard produced one of the best seasons in UNC history in 2012, averaging 122.8 rushing yards per game to lead the ACC and rank 11th in the nation.

Jordan coached running backs at Texas A&M for four seasons from 2008 to 2011. In 2011, the Aggies averaged 199.1 rushing yards per game, which ranked fourth in the Big 12 Conference. Under Jordan's tutelage, Cyrus Gray was a three-time All-Big 12 performer and exited ranking third in conference history in all-purpose yards.

Jordan's first collegiate coaching position was at the University of Nebraska, where he served as the running backs coach for the Cornhuskers under head coach Bill Callahan from 2004 to 2007. Jordan coached a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Cody Ross in 2004 and Marlon Lucky in 2007. He oversaw a committee of backs in 2006 that produced nearly 2,400 rushing yards and 26 rushing touchdowns, as an improved effort on the ground helped Nebraska improve from 107th in 2005 to 23rd nationally in rushing offense in 2006.

Jordan began his coaching career with the Oakland Raiders as a special teams assistant midway through the 2003 season.

As a running back in the NFL, Jordan appeared in 122 career games with the Raiders (1993, 1998-02) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-97), accumulating 152 rushing attempts for 574 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 58 receptions for 596 yards and two scores. He holds the distinction of scoring the first touchdown in Jaguars history, a 71-yard reception against Cincinnati in 1995. Also a standout on special teams, he registered 801 career kickoff return yards on 38 attempts and added 65 career special teams tackles. He was the recipient of the NFL Unsung Hero Award and the Ed Block Courage Award in 2001 and served as special teams captain for Oakland's AFC Championship team in 2002.

A native of Manson, N.C., Jordan attended the University of North Carolina under head coach Mack Brown from 1989 to 1992. He earned three letters for the Tar Heels, rushing for 1,134 yards and nine touchdowns in his career, including 618 yards and seven touchdowns in 1991. He earned his bachelor's degree in speech communication in 1993.

He and his wife, Romonda, have a daughter, Raven, and two sons, Jalen and Justin.

RANDY JORDAN'S COACHING TIMELINE

2024: Running Backs – Tennessee Titans
2023: Senior Offensive Assistant/Running Backs – Washington Commanders
2014-22: Running Backs – Washington Commanders
2012-13: Running Backs – University of North Carolina
2008-11: Running Backs – Texas A&M University
2004-07: Running Backs – University of Nebraska
2003: Special Teams Assistant – Oakland Raiders

RANDY JORDAN'S NFL PLAYING TIMELINE

1998-02: Running Back – Oakland Raiders
1995-97: Running Back – Jacksonville Jaguars
1993: Running Back – Los Angeles Raiders

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