Jim Haslett is in his second season with the Titans, his 26th season as an NFL coach and his 33rd overall year in coaching. Additionally, he was an NFL linebacker for nine years prior to his coaching career.
In 2020, inside linebacker Rashaan Evans started all 16 games for the second consecutive season and finished third on the defense with 96 tackles. Jayon Brown was leading the team with 76 total tackles and was on pace for a career high prior placed on injured reserve 10 games into the campaign.
Haslett (pronounced "HAZ-lett") arrived in Tennessee after most recently spending three seasons (2016-18) as the linebackers coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. He came to the Titans with 12 total seasons of NFL coordinating experience, and he has been an NFL head coach for seven campaigns, including a six-year run with the New Orleans Saints (2000-05) and an interim head coaching position with the St. Louis Rams in 2008. With New Orleans, he earned Associated Press Coach of the Years honors in 2000.
Haslett's tenure as defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh coincided with the first three seasons of current Titans head coach Mike Vrabel's playing career. They were together with the Steelers from 1997 through 1999.
Haslett holds the distinction of being the only person recognized as a College Football Hall of Fame member (as a player), an Associated Press NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and an AP NFL Coach of the Year.
From 2017 to 2018, the Cincinnati linebackers fought through a rash of injuries. Nevertheless, the 2017 Bengals ranked sixth in the NFL in fewest yards per play (5.0), eighth against the pass (211.2 yards per game) and sixth in red-zone defense (46.4 percent). Vincent Rey (team-leading 84 tackles in 2017), Nick Vigil (77) and Vontaze Burfict (69) all finished in the top five on the team in tackles that season, despite missing a combined 13 games. Vigil then set a career high with 84 total stops in 2018.
In 2016, Haslett's first in Cincinnati, the linebackers helped the Bengals defense rank eighth in the NFL in fewest points allowed per game (19.7) and seventh in red-zone defense (51.0 touchdown percentage).
Haslett spent 2015 as a consultant to the Penn State University football program after five years (2010-14) as defensive coordinator with the Washington Football Team. In Washington, he worked under head coach Mike Shanahan for the first four seasons and head coach Jay Gruden for one campaign.
Haslett was head coach of the St. Louis Rams for the last 12 games of 2008, after opening the season as defensive coordinator. Once Scott Linehan was released after an 0-4 start, he directed the team's only two victories on the year.
Haslett's New Orleans record was 46-52, including 1-1 in postseason. He ranks third in Saints history in career wins. He was named Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year in 2000, when he took over the Saints and raised them from a 3-13 finish in 1999 to a 10-6 record and the NFC South title. The Saints' 31-28 wild card playoff win that season over St. Louis was the first postseason victory in New Orleans franchise history.
Haslett was also a head coach in the developmental United Football League in 2009, leading the Florida Tuskers to a 6-0 record before the team lost in overtime in the league championship game to a Las Vegas club coached by former New York Giants head coach Jim Fassel.
His first NFL coaching job was as linebackers coach for the Los Angeles Raiders (1993-94) before serving in the same capacity with the Saints in 1995. In 1996, the Saints promoted him to defensive coordinator, and he joined the Steelers the following season as coordinator.
He received his start in coaching at the University of Buffalo for three seasons (1988-90) before joining the World League of American Football's Sacramento Surge as defensive coordinator for two seasons (1991-92).
A Pittsburgh native, Haslett was a four-time Little All-America defensive player as a linebacker and defensive end at Indiana (Pa.) University. After entering the NFL as a player in 1979 as a second-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills, he earned AP Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 1979 and All-Pro honors in 1980. He played eight seasons (1979-86) for the Bills and later was named to the franchise's Silver Anniversary Team. He closed his playing career in 1987 with the N.Y. Jets.
He and his wife, Beth, have three children: Kelsey, Libby and Chase. Chase currently serves on the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff.
Jim Haslett's Coaching Timeline:
2020-21:Â Inside Linebackers, Tennessee Titans
2016-18:Linebackers, Cincinnati Bengals
2015: Football Consultant, Penn State University
2010-14:Defensive Coordinator, Washington Redskins
2009: Head Coach, Florida Tuskers (UFL)
2008: Head Coach, St. Louis Rams (Final 12 games)
2006-08:Defensive Coordinator, St. Louis Rams
2000-05:Head Coach, New Orleans Saints
1997-99:Defensive Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
1996: Defensive Coordinator, New Orleans Saints
1995: Linebackers, New Orleans Saints
1993-94:Linebackers, Los Angeles Raiders
1991-92:Defensive Coordinator, Sacramento Surge (WLAF)
1989-90:Defensive Coordinator, University of Buffalo
1988: Linebackers, University of Buffalo
