Biography
Brian Gardner begins his 33rd NFL season, including his 11th with the Titans as Director of Pro Scouting, in 2024.
Gardner joined the Titans in 2014 after seven seasons with the Houston Texans as Director of Pro Personnel. His primary responsibilities included managing the Pro Personnel department, coordinating the advance scouting of Texans' opponents, coordinating the recruiting and signing of NFL free agents, organizing player tryouts and monitoring NFL transactions. Gardner also managed the evaluation of all active players in the NFL, as well as talent in other professional football leagues, including the Canadian Football League, the United Football League, and the Arena Football League.
Gardner was a Regional and National Scout with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992-95 & 2005-06) and the San Francisco 49ers (1995-05) before joining the Texans in 2007. He began his career in 1991-92 as the Defensive Coordinator/Director of Player Personnel with the New Orleans Night (Arena Football League) and was Director of Player Personnel/Wide Receivers Coach for the Washington Marauders (Professional Spring Football League).
In college, Gardner played Wide Receiver at Nicholls State and was a three-year starter at wide receiver at Prairie View A&M, where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications. He went on to play in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and the World League of American Football.
Gardner was a member of the 2006 Class of the NFL Stanford Program for Managers at Stanford University. He is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and he and his wife, Vanessa, are the proud parents of sons Royal and Tyler.