The Tennessee Titans are casting a wide net in their search for a new offensive coordinator, and one of the names set to interview Monday is former NFL quarterback and Buccaneers assistant Thad Lewis.
At 38, Lewis brings a unique blend of on-field experience and coaching upside. After going undrafted out of Duke in 2010, he carved out an eight-year NFL career, bouncing around the league with stops in St.
Louis, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, Houston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Baltimore. While he only started six games-mostly with the Browns and Bills-Lewis earned a reputation as a smart, steady presence in the quarterback room.
That football IQ has followed him into coaching.
Lewis began his coaching career in 2018 as an offensive analyst at UCLA, where he started building his foundation on the sidelines. He joined the Buccaneers in 2021 as an assistant wide receivers coach before transitioning to quarterbacks coach in 2023. Though his time in Tampa ended in early 2025, Lewis is still viewed as a rising mind in the coaching ranks-especially for teams looking to modernize their offense with someone who understands today's quarterback landscape from both sides of the headset.
He’s one of several intriguing names in the mix for the Titans’ OC job. The list includes former Commanders coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Packers OC Adam Stenavich, Arthur Smith-who recently spent time at Ohio State after his stint with the Steelers-and former Giants head coach Brian Daboll.
Each candidate brings a different flavor. Kingsbury is known for his Air Raid roots and quarterback development.
Stenavich has helped shape a balanced, efficient offense in Green Bay. Smith, of course, has deep ties to the Titans organization and a proven track record with the run game.
Daboll, meanwhile, has worked wonders with quarterbacks and play design, particularly during his time in Buffalo.
But Lewis stands out as the wildcard-less experienced, yes, but potentially the kind of fresh voice that could energize a Titans offense in transition. He’s walked the walk as a player, learned under a Super Bowl-winning staff in Tampa, and now gets a shot to pitch his vision for leading an NFL offense.
The Titans’ decision will say a lot about where they want to go philosophically. Are they looking for a seasoned hand to steady the ship?
Or are they ready to take a swing on a younger coach who could grow with the team? We’ll keep a close eye on how this unfolds as the process continues.