Former National Football League assistant coach Nick Eason enters his first year on the Vanderbilt staff. Eason will serve as defensive line coach for Derek Mason’s Commodore program.

Eason joins the Vanderbilt staff after serving a four-year stint coaching NFL defensive linemen. From 2014-17, Eason served as defensive line coach with the Tennessee Titans. In his last two years on staff with the Titans, Eason helped develop a defensive line that became one of the AFC’s top units against the rush.

Eason’s front in 2017 was a key factor in Tennessee allowing just 88.8 rushing yards/game, tops in the AFC and fourth best in the NFL. The 2017 Titans defense also ranked third in the league with four fumble recoveries and nine forced fumbles, helping Tennessee reach the AFC divisional playoffs.

That same year, the Tennessee defense ranked fifth in the NFL with 43 quarterback sacks.

In 2016, the Tennessee defense was even stronger against the run, ranking second in the NFL by allowing just 88.3 rushing yards/game and topping the league with allowing only 70 rushing first downs. The Titans defense ranked sixth in the NFL

Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey was among Eason’s top players at Tennessee. Starting in 2015, Eason was an All-Pro recipient for three consecutive years.

Eason started his coaching career shortly after his NFL playing days ended. In 2013, he served as a defensive line assistant with the Cleveland Browns, then joined the Titan’s staff the following year.

As a player, Eason was a standout defensive lineman at Clemson, selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Eason played 10 years in the NFL, contributing with the Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. He was a member of the 2008 Pittsburgh squad that won Super Bowl XLIII.

Eason earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Clemson in 2001.