The Tennessee Titans endured one of the league’s worst special‑teams performances in 2024. From blocked punts in Weeks 1 and 2 to surrendering multiple long returns—including three separate 60+‑yarders in Week 8—this unit consistently failed to deliver under now-fired coordinator Colt Anderson.
Enter John "Bones" Fassel.
Titans corrections on special teams can keep them infinitely more competitive
Fassel did not watch too much of Tennessee's 2024 tape when preparing for this undertaking.
It might sound counterintuitive at first. Fassel's explanation was delightfully simple. With two decades of NFL special teams experience to rely on himself, Fassel didn't want to watch too much of players from last season competing for jobs in 2025 in a system that he wasn't going to coach.
He didn't want to hold 2024 too much against them.
Two blocked punts within the first two games exposed critical flaws in protection schemes and execution. Teams like Chicago and the Jets capitalized early, scoring directly from Titans’ mishaps . That the same issue persisted illustrates a systemic failure in coaching, communication, or personnel alignment.
Just progressing to the mean would keep the Titans more competitive.
Tennessee finished 3-14 for more than one reason, but certainly multiple disastrous special teams plays contributed to seven losses by at least 10 or more points in 2024. In a Week 8, 52-14 road loss to the Detroit Lions, recevier (and former Titan) Kalif Raymond finished with 190 yards on five punt returns and a touchdown alone. The Titans -8.4% special teams DVOA was a league-worst by a numerical mile.
The San Francisco 49ers unit ranked 31st last year at -5.6%.
"Relentless, with a little wild man in it," Fassel said of what he's looking for in a special teamer. "Because I think on special teams there's some of that, where if you try to be real conservative, or real perfect or real scripted or real schemed, I think that prohibits a little bit of the flair that comes with special teams, which is running and hitting and chasing and finishing. So that's what I would love for us to be known for, not the schematics, not even all the big-play highlights. Just the consistent motor and relentlessness, and a little bit of wild man."
Titans special teams names to know
Johnny Hekker (No. 3): 6-5 / 225 lbs / Age: 35 / Exp: 14 / College: Oregon State
Morgan Cox (No. 46): 6-4 / 233 lbs / Age: 39 / Exp: 16 / College: Tennessee
Joey Slye (No. 6): 5-11 / 213 lbs / Age: 29 / Exp: 7 / College: Virginia Tech
