The Tennessee Titans stunned the football world on Tuesday when they parted ways with general manager Jon Robinson after six-plus seasons.
The move was shocking because the Titans made it during the season, and after Robinson had signed a multi-year extension this past offseason.
Some would argue the Titans sporting a winning record and being on pace to win another division crown as another reason why it’s surprising, but anyone who has watched this team closely knows it is a very ugly 7-5.
So, the question is, why now?
Well, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, “Titans brass wasn’t happy with the direction of the roster assembled by Jon Robinson.”
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Also, the extension Robinson signed last offseason would’ve kept him under contract through the 2027 NFL draft, so the now-former Titans general manager will make a nice buck from Tennessee until then.
My understanding is #Titans brass wasn't happy with the direction of the roster assembled by Jon Robinson and decided to make a change, despite leading the AFC South. He was under contract through the 2027 draft, and walks away with another four years' pay.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 6, 2022
It’s hard to argue with the Titans’ logic here.
After all, Robinson is coming off an offseason in which he traded away a franchise cornerstone in A.J. Brown — who just torched the Titans in Week 13 — and failed to adequately address both that position and the offensive line.
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As a result, the Titans don’t have much of a chance to do anything more than win the worst division in football, something that clearly didn’t sit right with owner Amy Adams Strunk.
One has to wonder if Brown burning the Titans in Week 13 was the final nail in the coffin. If not, Robinson’s firing just days after that would be one hell of a coincidence.
The aforementioned issues are only some of the ones Robinson has had in recent years. He has also been plagued by some bad draft picks, signings and trades, which has no doubt knocked off the luster he once had.
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Tennessee will roll with vice president of player personnel, Ryan Cowden, for the rest of the season. Cowden has had multiple general manager interviews in recent years.
If this move shows anything, it’s that Adams Strunk isn’t messing around and is dead serious about this team doing more than just the bare minimum of winning a division — and that’s great news.
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