Tim Kelly, a former offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans, was brought on by the New York Giants to teach tight ends

Kelly just finished his tenth NFL coaching season and his second with the Titans. After working as the passing game coordinator in 2022, he was elevated to the position of offensive coordinator in 2023. He played for the Houston Texans for eight seasons before moving to Tennessee, serving as their offensive coordinator for three of those seasons.

Kelly’s responsibilities in 2022 included assembling the passing game on first and second downs, working with the tight ends for the Titans, and supporting the offensive scheme in the red zone. With 952 receiving yards, the team’s tight ends tied for ninth place in the NFL at their position. Of them, Chig Okonkwo, a fourth-round pick who led all rookie tight ends in 2022 and set a new franchise mark for rookie tight ends, with 450 yards.

The Titans offense tied for sixth place in the league with an average of 7.6 passing yards per attempt on first and second downs. Their red zone touchdown percentage of 64.3 percent also tied for sixth place.

Kelly became an offensive quality control coach for the Texans in 2014, and in 2016 he took on assistant offensive line responsibilities. After working as the tight ends coach from 2017 to 2018, he was elevated to the position of offensive coordinator in 2019 and retained it until 2021. In 2020, he began coaching quarterbacks.

The Texans won the AFC South title four times while he was in Houston (2015–16, 2018–19).

Davis Mills, a third-round rookie quarterback, played in 13 games for the Texans in 2021, making 11 starts. With 2,664 throwing yards—263 of 394 attempts completed for 16 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and an 88.8 quarterback rating—he set a franchise rookie record. With a red zone passing rating of 116.8, Mills topped the NFL. In addition, 90 receptions for 1,037 yards and six touchdowns set a career best for veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

With quarterback Deshaun Watson leading the NFL and setting the franchise record for most passing yards in a single season with 4,823 yards, the Texans offense led the NFL in 2020 in both yards per reception (12.6) and yards per play (6.4). In addition, Watson had the best passer rating (112.4), completion % (70.2), and yards per attempt (8.9) rankings.

The Texans won the AFC South title in 2019 after a 10-6 regular season under Kelly’s first offensive coordinator leadership. Houston brought in lineman Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills, running backs Duke Johnson and Carlos Hyde, and other pieces that Kelly incorporated into the offense. Hyde had his first 1,000-yard season in his six-year career, and Tunsil was selected to his first Pro Bowl.

Tunsil, Watson, and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins were the three offensive picks made by the Texans to the Pro Bowl. For the first time since 2012, Houston concluded the season with a 3,500-yard passer in Watson, a 1,000-yard rusher in Hyde, and a 1,000-yard receiver in Hopkins. The Texans set franchise records for fewest three-and-outs (24), highest red-zone touchdown percentage (64.2), and most overall touchdowns scored (46) in a single season.

With an 11-5 record in 2018, the Texans won the AFC South, their second-highest winning season in franchise history and their first with ten or more wins since 2012. Under Kelly, rookie tight end Jordan Thomas tied Andre Johnson for the second-most touchdown receptions by a rookie in franchise history with 20 grabs for 215 yards (10.8 average.) and four touchdowns in 16 games (10 starts).

Kelly worked as a graduate assistant at Penn State from 2012 to 2013, having previously held the same role at Ball State in 2011. This was Kelly’s first experience coaching in the NFL.

Kelly spent the 2010 season at Minnesota State-Moorhead as the defensive coordinator, defensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator before leaving for Ball State.

Kelly was the defensive line coach for the 2009 CCIW Championship team, which finished ninth overall among NCAA Division-III defenses, during his tenure there from 2008 to 2009. Two first-team all-conference picks were coached by him as well.

During his collegiate career, Kelly played defensive tackle for Eastern Illinois, starting all 48 games and leading the squad as captain in 2007. In 2006 and 2007, he was selected to the Capital One Academic All-District V Team.

A star at Marian Catholic High School, Kelly is a Chicago Heights, Illinois native and a member of the East Suburban Catholic Conference Hall of Fame. 2008 saw him graduate from Eastern Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in sports administration, and Illinois awarded him a master’s degree in sport management.

Dennis, his brother, is an offensive lineman in the NFL who played for the Titans for five seasons.

Norah and Quinn are Kelly’s two daughters with his wife, Katie.