Ray Horton felt “insulted” by the Titans and will leave to become the Browns’ defensive coordinator, The Tennesseean reported Sunday.
The report said Horton had requested and been granted a release from the Titans to join Hue Jackson’s staff in Cleveland.
John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, said Horton felt insulted and “disrespected” that the Titans didn’t consider him a legitimate head coaching candidate.
“The Browns had put in a request to interview him, and then Tennessee interviewed him (for the head coaching job Saturday),” Wooten said. “And [the Titans] said that they didn’t know that he had any interest in being a head coach. Well, that’s an insult to the man. That is just an insult.
“And then when he got in the interview, they seemed shocked that he was as prepared and knowledgeable and everything else at that point. And they of course already interviewed [Mike] Mularkey on Friday, and they gave the job to Mularkey.”
Horton had been the Titans’ defensive coordinator the last two seasons. He was also the Browns’ defensive coordinator in 2013, two head coaches ago.
UPDATE 4:59 p.m. ET: In a phone interview with PFT, Horton disputed the contention that he’s insulted, and he said to his knowledge he has not been released from his contract.