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OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Dean Pees was introduced Wednesday as the Tennessee Titans' defensive coordinator, which comes a little over a month after he retired as the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator. Count Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti among those who didn't see this coming. "I’m a little shocked," Bisciotti said last week. "He’s 68 years old. It’s hard to give it up, I guess." Bisciotti said he wasn't 100 percent sure that Pees was retiring at the end of the season. He heard Dees might be thinking of retirement dating back to 2016 and asked coach John Harbaugh last December about Pees' status because there was speculation that Pees was going to step away. Pees announced his retirement on Jan. 1, a day after the Ravens' season ended when the defense gave up a winning touchdown int he final minute. He even had a retirement news conference, when he talked about wanting to leave while healthy and could spend more time with his wife and 12 grandchildren. Four weeks later, Pees agreed to join the Titans, and he's bringing along his son Matt as a quality control coach. "I wish Dean all the luck," Bisciotti said. "I understand he got his son in; I think that was a big point of his. We have a nepotism rule that may have prohibited that from happening in the last few years." Pees and the Ravens will have a reunion soon. Baltimore is scheduled to play at Tennessee this fall. "I’m happy for him," Bisciotti said. "He’s obviously well-respected in the league. I’ll root for them when they’re not playing us."
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