The Tennessee Titans played their 50th season in 2009. It was their 40th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 13th in Tennessee. The Titans aimed to equal or improve on their 2008 NFL-best 13–3 record; however, they lost the first six games of the season. The Titans switched to Vince Young as starting quarterback and won eight out of their remaining ten games, losing only to the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers. The 42–17 loss to the Chargers in Week 16 eliminated the team from playoff contention for the first time since 2006.
Second-year running back Chris Johnson won the NFL rushing title with 2,006 rushing yards, and set the NFL record for most yards from scrimmage in a single season, with 2,509.
From 2009 to 2016, the Titans would fail to qualify for the playoffs.
The 2009 Titans became the first, and, as of 2026, only team in NFL history to lose their first 6 games, then win their next 5.
Coaching staff 2009 Tennessee Titans staff Front office Founder/owner/chairman/president/CEO – Bud Adams Senior executive vice president/general counsel – Steve Underwood Executive vice president/general manager – Mike Reinfeldt Senior director of football administration – Vincent Marino Director of pro scouting – Lake Dawson National supervisor of college scouting – C. O. Brocato
Head coaches Head coach/executive vice president – Jeff Fisher Assistant head coach/linebackers – Dave McGinnis
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Mike Heimerdinger Quarterbacks – Craig Johnson Running backs Earnest Byner Wide receivers – Fred Graves Tight ends – John Zernhelt Offensive line – Mike Munchak Offensive quality control - Dowell Loggains Offensive assistant – Richie Wessman Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Chuck Cecil Defensive line – Jim Washburn Secondary – Marcus Robertson Assistant secondary – Tim Hauck
Special teams coaches Special teams – Alan Lowry Assistant special teams – Marty Galbraith
Strength and Conditioning Coaches Assistant head coach/strength and conditioning – Steve Watterson
Final roster
Schedule The Titans played the Buffalo Bills on August 8 in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, pitting teams owned by Bud Adams (Titans) and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. (Bills). They were two of the three surviving members of the "Foolish Club", the eight original owners of American Football League franchises. The 2009 NFL season celebrated what would have been the fiftieth of the American Football League (AFL). Both the Bills and Titans wore AFL throwbacks, with the Titans in Houston Oilers uniforms.
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap HOF August 9 Buffalo Bills W 21–18 1–0 Fawcett Stadium Recap 1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–20 2–0 LP Field Recap 2 at Dallas Cowboys L 10–30 2–1 Cowboys Stadium Recap 3 at Cleveland Browns L 17–23 2–2 Cleveland Browns Stadium Recap 4 Green Bay Packers W 27–13 3–2 LP Field Recap
Regular season In addition to their regular games with AFC South division rivals, the Titans played games against the AFC East and NFC West according to the NFL's schedule rotation, and also played games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Diego Chargers based upon finishing positions from 2008. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 10 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–13 0–1 Heinz Field Recap 2 September 20 Houston Texans L 31–34 0–2 LP Field Recap 3 September 27 at New York Jets L 17–24 0–3 Giants Stadium Recap 4 October 4 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–37 0–4 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Recap 5 October 11 Indianapolis Colts L 9–31 0–5 LP Field Recap 6 October 18 at New England Patriots L 0–59 0–6 Gillette Stadium Recap 7Bye 8 November 1 Jacksonville Jaguars W 30–13 1–6 LP Field Recap 9 November 8 at San Francisco 49ers W 34–27 2–6 Candlestick Park Recap 10 November 15 Buffalo Bills W 41–17 3–6 LP Field Recap 11 at Houston Texans W 20–17 4–6 Reliant Stadium Recap 12 November 29 Arizona Cardinals W 20–17 5–6 LP Field Recap 13 December 6 at Indianapolis Colts L 17–27 5–7 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 14 December 13 St. Louis Rams W 47–7 6–7 LP Field Recap 15 December 20 Miami Dolphins W 27–24 7–7 LP Field Recap 16 December 25 San Diego Chargers L 17–42 7–8 LP Field Recap 17 January 3 at Seattle Seahawks W 17–13 8–8 Qwest Field Recap
Standings
Regular season games Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Titans began their season at Heinz Field for the annual kickoff game against the defending Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers. After a scoreless first quarter, Tennessee trailed near the end of the second quarter as Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Santonio Holmes. Afterwards, the Titans would tie the game as quarterback Kerry Collins completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Justin Gage.
After a scoreless third quarter, Tennessee took the lead as kicker Rob Bironas got a 45-yard field goal, while Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed made a 32-yard field goal to tie the game. In overtime, the Steelers got the win as Reed nailed a game-winning 33-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Titans started the season out at 0–1.
Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
Hoping to rebound from their loss against the Steelers, the Titans went home for their Week 2 home opener against their AFC South foe, the Houston Texans. Tennessee would strike first in the opening quarter as running back Chris Johnson got a 57-yard touchdown run. The Texans would answer with quarterback Matt Schaub completing a 19-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson, yet the Titans would reply with quarterback Kerry Collins completing a 69-yard touchdown pass to Johnson. Tennessee would add onto their lead in the second quarter as Collins completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington. However, Houston took the lead as Schaub completed a 72-yard touchdown pass to Johnson and a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones, followed by a 38-yard field goal from kicker Kris Brown. The Titans would close out the half as kicker Rob Bironas made a 40-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Tennessee would regain the lead as Johnson got a 91-yard touchdown run. The Texans would tie the game again as Schaub completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Owen Daniels. In the fourth quarter, Houston took the lead as Brown nailed a 23-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Texans' defense prevented any attempt at an offensive rally.
With the loss, the Titans drop to 0–2.
Week 3: at New York Jets
Trying to snap a two-game losing skid, the Titans flew to The Meadowlands, donned their Houston Oilers throwbacks, and played a Week 3 AFL Legacy game with the New York Jets. Tennessee would struggle in the first quarter as Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez got a 14-yard touchdown run and completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ben Hartsock. The Titans would climb into the game in the second quarter with running back LenDale White's 5-yard touchdown run and kicker Rob Bironas' 38-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Tennessee would take the lead with quarterback Kerry Collins' 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington. However, New York would strike back with Sanchez's 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery. The Jets would increase their lead in the fourth quarter with kicker Jay Feely's 48-yard field goal. The Titans tried to rally, but New York's defense would stand firm and prevented any possible comeback attempt.
With the loss, Tennessee would fall to 0–3 for the first time since the 2006 season.
Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Hoping to save their season, the Titans flew to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 4 AFC South duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tennessee would trail early in the first quarter as Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee got a 22-yard field goal, followed by running back Maurice Jones-Drew's 9-yard touchdown. The Titans would get in the game in the second quarter with kicker Rob Bironas making a 29-yard field goal. However, Jacksonville came right back with quarterback David Garrard completing 9-yard and 15-yard touchdown passes to wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker, with Scobee's 50-yard field goal in between.
The Jaguars would continue to build their lead as Scobee nailed a 33-yard field goal. Tennessee would then begin its comeback attempt with quarterback Kerry Collins completing a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nate Washington (with a failed 2-point conversion). The Titans kept their rally going in the fourth quarter with Collins getting a 10-yard touchdown run, followed by running back Chris Johnson's 2-point conversion run. However, Jacksonville would pull away with Garrard's 33-yard touchdown pass to tight end Marcedes Lewis.
With this loss, Tennessee fell to 0–4.
Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Down four games, the Titans went home for a Week 5 Sunday night duel with their AFC South rival, the Indianapolis Colts. Tennessee would trail in the first quarter as Colts quarterback Peyton Manning found wide receiver Reggie Wayne on a 3-yard touchdown pass. The Titans would answer with a 49-yard and a 43-yard field goal from kicker Rob Bironas, but Indianapolis came right back in the second quarter with running back Joseph Addai’s 1-yard touchdown run. Tennessee tried to keep it close with Bironas nailing a 46-yard field goal, yet the Colts continued its domination with Manning hooking up with wide receiver Austin Collie on a 39-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, Indianapolis would pull away in the second half. Manning connected with Collie again on a 6-yard touchdown pass, followed by kicker Adam Vinatieri booting a 23-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Titans fell to 0–5.
Week 6: at New England Patriots
Still looking for their first win of the season, the Titans flew to Gillette Stadium, donned Oilers throwback uniforms, and played a Week 6 AFL Legacy game with the New England Patriots in a rare October snowstorm. Tennessee's struggles continued as Patriots running back Laurence Maroney got a 45-yard touchdown run, followed by kicker Stephen Gostkowski making a 33-yard field goal. Things got worse for the Titans in the second quarter as quarterback Tom Brady completed five touchdown passes, two to wide receiver Randy Moss (40-yard and 28-yard), one to running back Kevin Faulk (38-yard), and two to wide receiver Wes Welker (30-yard and 5-yard). The Patriots' 45–0 halftime lead was the largest in NFL history. New England would then conclude their scoring in the third quarter with Brady's 9-yard touchdown pass to Moss, followed by backup quarterback Brian Hoyer's one-yard touchdown run.
To make matters worse, the Titans finished the game with -7 passing yards. The Titans were the last team to finish with negative passing yards until the Giants finished with -10 passing yards in their week 17 game against the Bears on January 2, 2022.
With the loss, not only did the Titans go into their bye week at 0–6 (their first such start since 1984, when the team was the Houston Oilers), but suffered their worst loss in franchise history, eclipsing a 61–7 loss to Cincinnati in 1989. This was the first 59–0 game since 1976, and only the fourth in NFL history. It was the most lopsided game in the season, and tied the post-merger record for largest margin of victory.
Week 7: Bye Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Coming off their bye week, the Titans went home for a Week 8 AFC South rematch with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In this game, quarterback Vince Young would make his first start since Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season.