The Titans hired Jerry Gray to be the team's defensive coordinator on Saturday, as he joins the staff of new head coach Mike Munchak.

Last month Gray had joined the staff at the University of Texas as secondary coach and assistant head coach to Mack Brown, but his stay with the Longhorns was brief. Gray spent last season as the Seahawks' secondary coach. He has spent 14 seasons coaching in the NFL, including five as the Bills' defensive coordinator from 2001-2005.

"Jerry has a number of qualities that I think are assets for this role: He played the game, he coached a position group and he has coordinating experience," said Munchak.

Gray began his NFL coaching career in Tennessee as a defensive quality-control coach in 1997.

Gray replaces Chuck Cecil as part of the revamped Titans coaching staff. Munchak has yet to find a replacement for Mike Heimerdinger as the team's next offensive coordinator.

The way we see it

The Titans finished 26th in the league in defense in 2010 and 29th against the pass. Gray, a former defensive back, should help improve that defense in a division that has two potent passing offenses — the Colts' and Texans'. Munchak had been familiar with Gray, who had success leading the defense in Buffalo.