Ryan Cowden is in his 23rd NFL season and his seventh with the Titans. In 2018, he was promoted to Vice President of Player Personnel. He originally joined the franchise in 2016, as the Director of Player Personnel.
Cowden oversees all areas of the scouting department, both college and pro, including advance scouting, free agency preparation, and evaluation of players in the NFL and all other professional leagues. In addition, he assists with college scouting and preparation for the NFL Draft.
In
2000, after graduating from Wofford, Cowden was hired by the
Carolina Panthers as a scouting assistant.
[5] He had worked at a
fireworks store on
Asheville Highway before receiving the job with Carolina.
[5] He became a scout for the southeast area in
2001, and served in the position through
2007.
[6] Cowden served as a national scout from
2008 to
2012 and also added the position of senior college scout in
2012, which he served as until being promoted to assistant director of college scouting in
2014.
[7]
Cowden was hired by the
Tennessee Titans as director of player personnel in
2016.
[8] He received a promotion in
2018 to vice president of player personnel.
[9] In that position, he oversees the entire scouting department and assists with collegiate scouting, as well as helping prepare the team for the
NFL Draft.
[10] After
Jon Robinson was fired as general manager of the Titans in December
2022, Cowden was named interim replacement.
[11]
Cowden has been previously interviewed for the general manager position by the
Kansas City Chiefs (in
2017),
[12] the Carolina Panthers (in
2018),
[4] the
Washington Commanders (then known as the Washington Football Team, in
2021),
[13] the
New York Giants (in
2022),
[14] and the
Pittsburgh Steelers (in
2022)
Cowden attended
Lebanon High School in
Virginia where he was one of the state's top multi-sport athletes,
[1] playing
football as a
quarterback,
baseball as an
outfielder,
basketball as a
point guard and
track and field.
[2] He was a three-year starter in football and compiled an overall record of 30–6, leading them to the Region C, Division 2 championship in 1994 where they lost 34–33, in what was considered one of the greatest games in Southwest Virginia history.
[2]
Cowden later attended
Wofford College and played
strong safety on their
football team.
[3] As a
senior in 1999, he recorded a total of 59
tackles, placing third on the team, and was the
holder for kicks, throwing in that position a 29-yard
touchdown on a fake
field goal.
[4] He received a degree in finance when he graduated.
Ryan Cowden (tennesseetitans.com)
Ryan Cowden - Wikipedia