Titans fire general manager Jon Robinson after losing to A.J. Brown, Eagles in Week 13
The Tennessee Titans are looking for a new general manager after firing Jon Robinson, the team announced Tuesday morning. Ryan Cowden, the Titans' VP of player personnel, will take over as interim GM.
In her announcement, Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said the team made "significant progress both on and off the field through investments in leadership, personnel and new ideas" but that "there is more to be done and higher aspirations to be met."
"I want to thank Jon for his dedicated work to set this organization on an upward trajectory and I wish him and his family the best."
This would fit in line with what NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported after the news broke that the Titans' management wasn't happy "with the direction of the roster assembled" by Robinson.
But the timing of the firing is still odd because the Titans currently stand at 7-5 and atop the AFC South for the third consecutive season, and Robinson signed a contract extension in February.
However, the news comes days after the Titans lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, who acquired star receiver A.J. Brown from the Titans during the 2022 draft in April (after Robinson's extension). Brown caught eight passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the 35-10 win for the Eagles. Brown also has almost more receiving yards and touchdowns by himself this season than the entire Titans receiver room.
Brown admitted the game against his former team was emotional and that he circled it on the schedule after he was traded to Philadelphia.
"I wanted to retire a Titan. I tried to do everything in my power to remain a Titan," Brown said. "It's a business, once again. In that situation, I had to grow up. I just had to learn it was a business. I wanted to make them regret that decision.
"It's been personal since the trade. That's where I wanted to be. ... Things didn't work out. It was kind of like, 'Here you go, we don't want you anymore.' You just kind of get pushed to the side. In that situation, I had to grow up."
Whether losing to Brown had anything to do with the firing is unclear, but it should be noted that head coach Mike Vrabel, who also signed a contract extension this offseason, repeatedly said he didn't want to trade Brown this offseason and looked visibly upset after the Titans traded Brown to the Eagles during the 2022 draft.
The Titans have gone at least 9-7 and made the playoffs in four of the past six years since Robinson was hired in 2016. Though the team has struggled offensively in its first year without Brown, the Titans have historically ground out wins with solid defenses and behind the legs of running back Derrick Henry.
Now, though, Tennessee will begin its search to replace Robinson while it also contends for a playoff berth.
