Sunday is going to be a reunion for many when the Tennessee Titans visit the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Several Titans players and coaches made the trek south when former Giants coach Brian Daboll came to Tennessee to be the Titans’ new offensive coordinator.
Among the coaches following Daboll to Tennessee were quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney, offensive line coach Carmen Bricello and safeties coach Marquand Manuel.
Players on the Titans who were with the Giants last year include receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, tight end Daniel Bellinger, center Austin Schlottman and cornerback Cordale Flott.
On the Giants’ end, not nearly as many ex-Titans players are up there. In fact, guard Aaron Stinnie, who began his career in Tennessee many years ago as a backup lineman, is the only current Giant with a Tennessee past.
But John Harbaugh’s initial staff in New York is loaded with Titans castoffs, including three former play-callers in Tennessee.
The most obvious is Brian Callahan, who escaped to New York as quarterbacks coach and has Jaxson Dart looking good in the early returns. Tim Kelly, who was the Titans’ offensive coordinator in 2023 under Mike Vrabel, is the Giants’ tight ends coach.
Also, Dennard Wilson, who was Callahan’s defensive coordinator for two seasons in Nashville, has the same role with the Giants under Harbaugh. Inside linebackers coach Frank Bush followed him to New York as part of the defensive staff.
And just for good measure, Matt Pees, who was a quality control coach for the Titans defense in 2018 and ‘19 on Vrabel’s staff, is an assistant linebackers coach.
So, if familiarity does indeed breed contempt, then Sunday’s game between the Titans and Giants will be filled with it.