NASHVILLE – Titans defensive coordinator Dean Pees is retiring from the NFL.

According to a press release, Pees made the announcement on Monday at Saint Thomas Sports Park, one day after the team’s season ended with a loss to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Pees just finished his second season with the Titans as defensive coordinator, and his 47th year in coaching in 2019.

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel will now begin the process of finding his replacement.

Pees arrived in Tennessee with 14 years of experience as an NFL coach, including 10 total years as a defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots. He became one of eight defensive coordinators in NFL history to coach in a Super Bowl with two different teams.

In 10 of his 12 seasons as a defensive coordinator in the NFL, Pees’ defenses finished in the NFL’s top 12, including his first defense in Tennessee.

The Titans finished 21st in the NFL in defense in 2019, but the unit finished 12th in points allowed. The defense really stiffened up down the stretch this season, allowing just 13 points in a 20-13 win over the Patriots in the Wild Card round, and 12 points in a 28-12 win over the Ravens in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The Chiefs beat the Titans 35-24 on Sunday.

Prior to joining Mike Vrabel’s staff in Tennessee, Pees served on the staffs of some of the most successful head coaches in football, including Nick Saban, Lou Holtz, Bill Belichick and John Harbaugh.

Before joining the NFL coaching ranks, Pees spent 25 years at the collegiate level – including 21 seasons as a coordinator or head coach. Pees got his start in coaching with six years at Elmwood (Bloomdale, Ohio) High School, first as an assistant coach (1973-74) and then as a head coach (1975-78).

(PHOTO: Dean Pees, left, with Mike Vrabel)