USA TODAY Sports
Longtime NFL assistant coach Dean Pees retired after the 2019 season.
He spent the past two years as the Titans’ defensive coordinator. Before that, Pees held the same position with the 2012-2017 Ravens.
But, apparently, Pees didn’t love his time away from the game so much, because he is now Arthur Smith’s defensive coordinator in Atlanta.
“I came out of retirement because I really missed it. And I think the world of Arthur Smith. I loved working with him, ”said Pees on Friday, through Jason Butt, from Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I was itchy, but I wouldn’t go out and look for a job. I came here because of the Atlanta Falcons and Arthur Smith. “
Smith and Pees were together on the 2018-2019 Titans team. Smith coached Tennessee’s tight ends at first, but the two became co-coordinators in 2019 when Matt LaFleur stepped down as OC to become Green Bay’s coach.
The Titans promoted another tight-knit coach to offensive coordinator to replace Smith, this time putting Todd Downey in position.