Shane Bowen is in his sixth season with the Titans and his eighth season coaching in the NFL. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2021 after spending his first three seasons with the Titans as outside linebackers coach.
In his first two seasons as defensive coordinator, Bowen directed one of the NFL's stingiest defenses against the run and one of the best defensive units on third down. From 2021 through 2022, opponents averaged a league-low 80.7 rushing yards per game (2,745 total) against the Titans. In that span, Bowen's defense allowed a total of two individual 100-yard rushers—one in each season. At the same time, the defense allowed a third-down conversion rate of 35.4 percent (154 of 435), which ranked third behind the Buffalo Bills (34.1) and Baltimore Ravens (34.9).
In 2022, the Titans led the NFL in rushing defense for the first time since 2003, surrendering a league-low average of 76.9 yards per contest (1,307 total) for the second-best finish in franchise history (73.4 in 1960). The Titans also ranked third in third-down defense in 2022, allowing a conversion rate of 34.2 percent (77 of 225). The 28 total starters used on defense was the second-highest total in the NFL, and the 40 total players used on defense led the league.
In 2021, Bowen's first season as defensive coordinator, the Titans ranked second in the NFL in rushing defense (84.6). Only one individual rusher all season accumulated more than 70 rushing yards in a game against the Titans.
The 2021 defense tied for ninth in sacks (43), while outside linebacker Harold Landry III (12 sacks) and defensive linemen Denico Autry (nine sacks) and Jeffery Simmons (8.5) made up the NFL's only trio with at least eight sacks each. In the divisional playoffs, the Titans set a new franchise postseason record and matched the NFL postseason record with nine sacks against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bowen's unit also ranked 12th in total defense (329.8 per game), sixth on third down (36.7 percent) and sixth in scoring defense (20.8 points per game) in 2021.
Landry, Simmons and safety Kevin Byard were all named to the Pro Bowl following the 2021 campaign, with Byard adding first-team All-Pro honors. It was the first of two consecutive Pro Bowl nods for Simmons.
In 2020, Bowen added defensive play-caller to his responsibilities as outside linebackers coach. The Titans defense ranked seventh in the NFL with 23 takeaways, which tied for the most by a Titans defense since 2013 (25). The Titans also tallied 15 interceptions, which ranked seventh in the NFL and the most by the Titans since 2012 (19).
With Bowen as his position coach for the first three seasons of his career, Landry totaled a team-high 19 sacks from 2018 through 2020. Other than Jevon Kearse (36.0), Landry produced the highest sack total by a Titans/Oilers player in his first three NFL seasons since individual sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982. In 2020, Landry led the team with a career-high 32 quarterback pressures and a career-high 10 tackles for loss.
Among Titans outside linebackers in 2019, Landry (nine sacks) and Kamalei Correa (five) achieved career highs in sacks, while undrafted rookie Derick Roberson added three sacks.
In 2018, the Titans defense ranked eighth overall (333.4 yards per game), third in points allowed (18.9 per game), 10th on third down (36.6 percent) and second in the red zone (44.7 touchdown percentage). Bowen helped two rookies—Landry, a second-round draft pick, and undrafted free agent Sharif Finch—combine for six sacks.
Bowen joined the Titans after spending two seasons with the Houston Texans as a defensive assistant. In 2017, despite being beset by key injuries, the Texans ranked fifth in third-down defense and set a franchise record for fewest yards per carry by opponents (3.97). In 2016, he was part of a coaching staff that produced the NFL's top-ranked defense (301.3 yards allowed per game) for the first time in franchise history. The 2016 squad, which also gave up the fewest first downs (17.0) and second-fewest net passing yards (201.6) per game, won the AFC South Division and advanced to the Divisional Playoff Round.
Before joining the Texans, Bowen was hired by Kennesaw State University in 2013 as one of the first coaches to help launch the school's new football program. The team's first season was 2015, and with Bowen serving as linebackers coach, the Owls went 6-5 in the Big South Conference.
Bowen spent the 2012 campaign as a defensive graduate assistant at Ohio State. He assisted with the defensive line, a unit that produced two first-team All-Big Ten selections and the conference's Defensive Player of the Year, former Texans outside linebacker John Simon. The Buckeyes concluded the year with a 12-0 mark and ranked No. 3 nationally.
The 2012 season at Ohio State was the first time Bowen and current Titans head coach Mike Vrabel were on the same staff. They reunited from 2016-17 with the Texans.
Bowen began his coaching career as a student assistant at Georgia Tech after an injury ended his playing career during his junior season. He finished the year assisting with the linebackers before being named an offensive graduate assistant in 2010. He held that position for two years before leaving for Ohio State.
As a three-year letterman at outside linebacker for Georgia Tech, he started 10 games and had a streak of 38 consecutive games played. He helped the Yellow Jackets win Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Coastal Division titles in 2006 and 2008. The team also played in three consecutive bowl games, participating in the 2007 Gator Bowl, 2007 Humanitarian Bowl and 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Bowen, named to the Dean's List three times while at Georgia Tech, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management in 2009, and a master's degree in workforce development and education from Ohio State in 2014. He is a native of Pickerington, Ohio.
He and his wife, Courtney, have a daughter, Harper Belle, and a son, Brooks.
Shane Bowen's Coaching Timeline:
2021-23: Defensive Coordinator, Tennessee Titans
2018-20: Outside Linebackers, Tennessee Titans
2016-17: Defensive Assistant, Houston Texans
2013-15: Linebackers, Kennesaw State
2012: Defensive Graduate Assistant, Ohio State
2010-11: Offensive Graduate Assistant, Georgia Tech
2009: Assistant Linebackers, Georgia Tech
