Panthers hire ex-Titans LB Daren Bates as special teams assistant

Former Tennessee Titans linebacker Daren Bates has landed another coaching gig after getting his feet wet during the 2023 campaign.

The Panthers announced on Thursday that Bates has been hired as the team’s special teams assistant. This is Bates’ second coaching gig after serving as an assistant coach with the Seattle Seahawks in 2023.

Bates played with the Titans for four seasons from 2017 to 2020 and was an integral part of Tennessee’s special teams unit over that span. He also chipped-in with 54 defensive snaps during his time in Nashville.

Prior to his stint in Tennessee, Bates was an undrafted free agent signing of the St. Louis Rams in 2013 and spent three years there before moving on to play for the Oakland Raiders for one season.

His last stop in the NFL was with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021, when he played for former Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who was the head coach at the time.