The Titans have parted ways with Chuck Cecil, their defensive coordinator the past two seasons, after ranking 26th in the league in yards allowed per game last year. PFW's Titans correspondent and Tennessean reporter Jim Wyatt first reported the news.

Prior to becoming the coordinator, Cecil was a defensive coach for the Titans from 2001-08, coaching primarily the secondary. That followed a seven-year career as a safety, mostly with the Packers.

Neither Cecil nor Titans head coach Jeff Fisher made any comment on the dismissal.

The way we see it

This move comes as a bit of a surprise given how long Cecil had been with the organization, but the defense has taken a step back the past few seasons since the departure of Albert Haynesworth. One candidate to fill the position is Dave McGinnis, the Titans' LB coach last season, who previously had been a defensive coordinator and head coach of the Cardinals.