Rayna Stewart returned to Tennessee in 2025 after three seasons as the special teams assistant with the Cowboys. He is in his ninth season coaching in the NFL following a five-year playing career he began in 1996 as a fifth-round draft pick with the Houston Oilers.

During his time in Dallas from 2022 through 2024, Stewart (first name pronounced "ruh-NAY") worked with current Titans special teams coordinator John Fassel. During that span, the Cowboys field goal unit connected on 90 percent of it's attempts, the fourth-best mark in the NFL. The team also ranked third in the NFL in average kickoff return yardage (27.2) from 2022-24. Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey and returner KaVontae Turpin were both multiple-time Pro Bowl selections during Stewart's time as assistant.

In 2024, Aubrey connected on a Cowboys-record 40 field goals, tying for the third-highest total in NFL history. The Cowboys also ranked second in the league with 1,091 kickoff return yards, led the NFL with an NFL-record 32.1 kickoff return average, and were the only team to return multiple kickoffs for touchdowns. Aubrey and Turpin received AP All-Pro honors.

Stewart assisted with the development of first-year kicker Aubrey throughout the 2023 season. Aubrey led the league in field goals made (36), ranked third in field goal percentage (94.7) and first in kicking points (157). He set NFL records in single-season touchbacks (99), consecutive field goals made without a miss to start a career (35) and set a franchise record for most field goals made in a single season (36). Bryan Anger also set franchise records by averaging 51.4 yards-per-punt and a net average of 44.9 yards in 2023.

In 2022, Cowboys kicker Brett Maher enjoyed a career season, making 29-of-32 field goals for a career-high 90.6 field goal percentage. He also racked up 137 kicking points to establish a then-single-season club record and tie for the third-most in the NFL in 2022. The special teams unit also benefited from the addition of Turpin, who finished the season fifth in punt return average (10.4) and was the only NFL player with a 50-yard kick return and 50-yard punt return. Turpin earned his first Pro Bowl selection and became the first player in Cowboys history to be named to the Pro Bowl as a return specialist.

Stewart went to Dallas after three seasons in Green Bay in a similar capacity, first as the special teams quality control coach (2019-20) and then as the assistant special teams coach (2021).

In 2021, Packers kicker Mason Crosby made 25-of- 34 (73.5 percent) field goals and converted 49-of-51 extra points, leading the team in scoring (124 points) for the 13th time in his career. Punter Corey Bojorquez averaged 46.5 yards-per-punt on 53 punts and had the longest punt in the NFL on the season - an 82-yard bomb that ranked as the second-longest punt in Packers history. Green Bay finished 30th in kick return average (17.7) and 21st in punt return average (8.0) in 2021.

In 2020, Stewart worked with Crosby, who became the first Packer and just the sixth NFL player since 1932 to record a perfect field goal percentage in a season (min. one attempt-per-game) by connecting on all 16 of his field goal attempts. Crosby finished the season with an active streak of 18 converted field goals dating back to the 2019 season, the third-longest streak in franchise history.

Stewart was part of a staff in 2019 that saw Crosby connect on 22-of-24 field goal attempts (91.7 percent), matching Jan Stenerud's single-year franchise-record percentage in 1981. Crosby ranked fifth in the league in field goal percentage in 2019, the highest ranking by a Green Bay kicker since Ryan Longwell in 2003 (fourth). JK Scott posted 29 punts inside the 20 on the year, which ranked ninth in the NFL and was the most by a Packer since Tim Masthay recorded 30 in 2012.

Stewart spent four seasons (2015-18) at Vanderbilt, first as director of player development (2015-17) and then as special teams quality control coach (2018)+. As director of player development, he served as a mentor for players and oversaw a number of programs that helped the student-athletes transition from high school to college and prepare for post-graduate life. In 2018, Stewart helped Parker Thome rank fourth in the SEC with an average of 44.9 yards per punt, tied for the fourth-highest punting average in school history.

Prior to joining the Commodores, Stewart worked for two years as a teacher and head football coach at Whites Creek (Tenn.) High School. Stewart also served as a teacher and coach at Battle Ground (Franklin, Tenn.) Academy for two years before leading the Whites Creek staff.

From 2009 to 2010, Stewart was a member of the Titans coaching staff for the first time. Working primarily with the linebackers and defensive linemen as a defensive quality control coach, he helped defensive linemen Kyle Vanden Bosch and Jason Babin earn Pro Bowl honors in 2009 and 2010, respectively.

Before his first coaching stint with the Titans, Stewart's titles included graduate assistant at Northwestern University (2007-08), athletic director/head coach at Chicago (Ill.) Hope Academy (2005-06) and assistant coach at Centennial (Tenn.) High School (2001-04). He interned with the Indianapolis Colts during training camp in 2004.

Stewart played collegiately at Northern Arizona, where he was a two-time All-American cornerback and set the school record for passes defensed in a season, posting 19 in both 1994 and 1995. He was selected in the fifth round (143rd overall) of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers and played in 71 career games as a defensive back for the Oilers (1996-97), Miami Dolphins (1998) and Jacksonville Jaguars (1999-2000). He finished his NFL career with 77 tackles, four fumble recoveries, two interceptions and a half sack.

A native of Chatsworth, Calif., Stewart earned a bachelor's degree in advertising from Northern Arizona University and a master's degree in education administration from Tennessee State University.

Stewart and his wife, Sonia, have four children: ShaRae, Tre, Mycah and Jadyn.

RAYNA STEWART TIMELINE

COACHING

2025: Special Teams Assistant – Tennessee Titans

2022-24: Assistant Special Teams – Dallas Cowboys

2021: Assistant Special Teams – Green Bay Packers

2019-20: Special Teams Quality Control – Green Bay Packers

2018: Special Teams Quality Control – Vanderbilt University

2015-17: Director of Player Development – Vanderbilt University

2013-14: Head Coach – Whites Creek (Tenn.) High School

2011-12: Assistant Coach – Battle Ground (Tenn.) Academy

2009-10: Defensive Quality Control – Tennessee Titans

2007-08: Graduate Assistant – Northwestern University

2005-06: Athletic Director & Head Coach – Chicago (Ill.) Hope Academy

2004: Training Camp Intern – Indianapolis Colts

2001-04: Assistant Coach – Centennial (Tenn.) High School

PLAYING

1999-00: Safety – Jacksonville Jaguars

1998: Safety – Miami Dolphins

1996-97: Safety – Houston/Tennessee Oilers