MOBILE, Ala. - The Titans have hired Bob Bratkowski as the team's wide receivers coach.
Bratkowski is another coaching veteran with ties to head coach Mike Mularkey.
Bratkowski has 21 years of NFL coaching experience, including 15 as an offensive coordinator and additional 14 years coaching in the college ranks.
Bratkowski and Mularkey worked together at three different NFL stops – Jacksonville (2012), Atlanta (2011) and Pittsburgh (1999-00).
"I just like that I have another coordinator in that offensive room because I like ideas, I like as many ideas that can flow from the staff," Mularkey said on Tuesday. "That had a lot to do with it. But I've also watched him coach Hines Ward (in Pittsburgh) and ... Chad Johnson (in Cincinnati). He's been very productive with these guys. He's a very good teacher."
A long stretch of Bratkowski's NFL coaching career was as offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, where he spent 10 seasons (2001-10). His offenses during that period were prolific, ranking in the top 10 on three occasions.
After working with the Bengals, he became the quarterback coach in Atlanta (2011), where he worked with Matt Ryan and guided him to his first 4,000-yard passing season and the third-highest passer rating (92.2) of his career. Bratkowski followed Mularkey to Jacksonville in 2012 to become the offensive coordinator.
Bratkowski entered the NFL coaching ranks as a wide receivers coach for the Seattle Seahawks for three seasons (1992-94). He was promoted to offensive coordinator for the Seahawks in 1995 and stayed in that role for four years. He then spent two years (1999-00) with the Steelers coaching wide receivers on Bill Cowher's staff.
In the college ranks, Bratkowski earned two national title wins (1989, 1991) as the offensive coordinator for the University of Miami (Fla.) and he also spent time as the offensive coordinator at Washington State, Wyoming and Weber State.
"He is a very good coach in regards to being hands on," Mularkey said.
Speaking at Senior Bowl practice, Mularkey also said running backs coach Sylvester Croom, linebackers coach Lou Spanos and assistant receivers coach Jason Tucker have all been retained, along with strength and conditioning coach Steve Watterson.
Assistant offensive line coach Mike Sullivan and special teams assistant Steve Hoffman will also be back in 2016, Mularkey said. Offensive assistant Luke Steckel is also coming back. Earlier, Mularkey said Jason Michael is the team's new quarterbacks coach after serving last season as offensive coordinator.
Mularkey said Nick Eason has been promoted to defensive line coach. He was assistant defensive line coach last season.
"I think he is an ascending coach," Mularkey said of Eason. "I like his energy and I like his passion. I saw how players responded to him last year and he is excited about the opportunity."
Bob Bratkowski Coaching Timeline
2016: Tennessee Titans – Wide Receivers
2012: Jacksonville Jaguars – Offensive Coordinator
2011: Atlanta Falcons - Quarterbacks
2001-10: Cincinnati Bengals – Offensive Coordinator
1999-00: Pittsburgh Steelers – Wide Receivers
1995-98: Seattle Seahawks – Offensive Coordinator
1992-94: Seattle Seahawks – Wide Receivers
1989-91: University of Miami (Fla.) – Offensive Coordinator
1987-88: Washington State – Offensive Coordinator
1986: Wyoming – Offensive Coordinator
1984-85: Weber State – Offensive Coordinator
1981-83: Weber State – Wide Receivers
1978-80: Missouri – Wide Receivers
