Mike McCarthy parted ways with the Cowboys organization last Monday. Now, one week later, one of his top coaches is officially gone, too.

The Tennessee Titans are said to be hiring John Fassel to be their next special teams coordinator, per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. He is the first of the team’s assistants to depart after a disappointing 7-10 season and the end of McCarthy’s tenure.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano reports that the “Cowboys made a late push to keep Fassel” and suggested the uncertainty surrounding the current head coaching vacancy contributed to Fassel’s decision to take the job in Nashville.

Fassel, 51, had served in the same capacity for Dallas since 2020, when he was one of the first hires made by McCarthy upon his arrival.

The Cowboys’ special teams squads excelled under Fassel, with kicker Brandon Aubrey and kick return specialist KaVontae Turpin being among his notable projects. Both players were brought to Dallas from spring leagues and turned into All-Pros under Fassel’s tutelage.

The longtime coordinator helped many of the team’s younger players succeed on special teams and work their way into roles with the regular offense and defense. The Cowboys’ punt and kick teams were consistently among the NFL’s best under the man nicknamed “Bones,” and while his tendencies for calling the trick play didn’t always succeed, they helped give Mike McCarthy’s teams an aggressive reputation as one of the league’s more dangerous teams, regardless of the field position or situation.

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Fassel had previously been on staff with the Ravens, Raiders, and Rams before coming to Dallas. He also served as the Rams’ interim head coach for the final three games of the 2016 season after the firing of Jeff Fisher.