USC's Chow to become Titans OC

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Southern California offensive coordinator Norm Chow has accepted the same job with the Tennessee Titans, the Los Angeles Times reported on its Web site Tuesday night.

"I'm fired up - it's an exciting opportunity to get into the highest level of football," Chow told the newspaper. "But my family is very, very sad to leave USC because it's been such a great run."

Chow, 58, replaces Mike Heimerdinger, who was hired as the New York Jets' offensive coordinator last month.

Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, a USC alumnus, also interviewed assistant head coach George Henshaw and quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson from his own staff. Fisher was expected to announce Chow's hiring in Nashville on Wednesday, the Times said.

Chow will earn nearly $1 million annually plus incentives. It is his first job in pro football after 32 seasons at Brigham Young, North Carolina State and USC.

"They're taking a chance on a college guy, and I'm grateful for that," he said.

Chow joined USC in 2001 and helped the team win two consecutive national championships. He also tutored Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

At Brigham Young, Chow worked with quarterbacks such as Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer, NFL star Steve Young and Chicago Bears QB Jim McMahon - a former teammate of Fisher's.

USC's Chow to become Titans OC

Could spell trouble for us, particularly in a year or two.

Wonder why USC will do. I remember the few games I saw of them they mentioned Mr. Chow's name as often as the head coach. He was a real important cog in that machine.

Good hire for the Titans. And Bud had to pay alot for him!

Its gonna be trouble for us in the future... did mcnaire retire yet?

"I'm fired up - it's an exciting opportunity to get into the highest level of football," Chow told the newspaper.

I thought he was going to the Titans.

The AFC South just got a bit tougher!Good hire for the Tacks.

he should improve our offense alot but how bout that defense lol

Ranger said:

A VERY GOOD pick up for the Titans, and it could be their best offseason move. But one question........why to the Titans? This is a team that might not have McNair back, may lose both of their starting Ts, and who knows what else. He could have waited and won another national championship and then got a big college head coaching job or a better NFL job.

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Why not the tacks? on Offense they have some good young talent that could explode in the next few years, if they can get past the cap problems. wr T. Calico and rb C. Brown could be stars under chow if they are healthy. B. Voleck and B. Troupe are also very promising.

That said I wish he would have went elsewhere.

I still dont know why he would leave USC. I could understand going from a OC to a head coach but he's just getting the same job in the pros. Even with the money, I would have been at USC next year going for 3.