The Tennessee Titans‘ coaching staff puzzle is being put together, and the latest surprise candidate comes from an AFC South rival, as Dino Vasso is in the mix for the Titans’ defensive coordinator job.
The Titans are interviewing the Houston Texans‘ defensive backs coach, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The 38-year-old Vasso arrives with significant momentum, as mentors Matt Burke and Jim Schwartz have been paving the way for him to accelerate at a higher coaching level.
For a coach who’s spent the last decade working his way up through the NFL coaching ranks, this could be a breakthrough moment. Although new Titans’ HC Robert Saleh will call the plays, Vassell could have a chance to “run” an entire defense after years of apprenticeship under some of the game’s best defensive architects.
Dino Vasso Worked with Many Successful NFL Organizations
Vasso’s journey through the NFL coaching ranks reads like a textbook case of climbing the ladder the right way. He broke into the league as a coaching assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013-2015, working under Andy Reid during a period when Kansas City’s defense consistently ranked among the league’s best.
The real foundation of his career, though, was built in Philadelphia. Vasso joined the Eagles in 2016 as a defensive quality control coach and assistant secondary coach under coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. He spent five seasons in Philadelphia (2016-2020), culminating in a promotion to assistant defensive coordinator in 2020.
That 2017 Eagles’ season was the defining moment of Vasso’s early career. The Eagles’ defense, coordinated by Schwartz, ranked fourth in yards allowed and fourth in points allowed.
Philadelphia went 13-3 in the regular season and steamrolled through the playoffs to win Super Bowl LII, defeating the New England Patriots 41-33. Vasso coached a disruptive secondary unit that played a pivotal role in that championship run.
Texans’ Defense Proves Vasso’s Development Ability
Vasso’s resume speaks for itself when it comes to developing defensive backs. He joined the Houston Texans as a cornerbacks coach in 2021 and was promoted to defensive backs coach in 2023, overseeing the entire secondary for one of the NFL’s most dominant defenses.
Over the past three seasons as defensive backs coach (2023-2025), Vasso has compiled a 32-19 regular-season record while making the playoffs all three years. That consistency at the secondary coaching level has translated into one of the league’s best pass defenses and a culture of accountability in Houston’s defensive backfield.
The 2025 Texans’ defense was nothing short of elite. Houston finished the regular season allowing the second-fewest points in the NFL and the fewest total yards at just 277.2 yards per game. The Texans ranked top-five against both the run and the pass, with Pro Bowler Derek Stingley Jr. at cornerback and All-Pro linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair anchoring the unit.
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