Fisher says Chow's visit just first step
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Titans Coach Jeff Fisher picked up Norm Chow at a Nashville hotel yesterday morning, then drove him to the airport last night.
Soon, Fisher could give Chow the keys to Tennessee's offense.
The offensive coordinator for back-to-back national champion Southern California spent all day with Fisher and other Titans officials at Baptist Sports Park.
He met with Titans quarterback Steve McNair, members of the offensive coaching staff and discussed what life would be like in the NFL.
But Fisher said he did not offer Chow the offensive coordinator job left vacant by Mike Heimerdinger's departure to the Jets just more than two weeks ago.
''This is the first step in the process, and the process will continue,'' Fisher said last night. ''I was impressed with everything that took place. We had a very good visit.''
All indications are that Chow is Fisher's top choice. Fisher has also had lengthy discussions with assistant head coach/offense George Henshaw and quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson, however, and said there's a chance he could interview more candidates.
Chow, 58, has never coached in the NFL but left the impression with friends in California that he's very interested in making the jump to the Titans.
Fisher, a former USC player, and USC Coach Pete Carroll spoke several times about Chow before his visit to Nashville was arranged, but Fisher agreed to wait until after college football's National Signing Day this past Wednesday to bring Chow to Nashville.
Chow might have stayed longer, but Fisher said he had some ''personal commitments that he has to tend to. When those are over I would expect to be getting together with him again.''
Chow, USC's offensive coordinator since 2001, is regarded as one of the premier offensive minds in college football. He's coached Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer for the Trojans and spent a year at North Carolina State coaching quarterback Philip Rivers, who was a first-round pick last year.
Chow also spent 27 seasons at Brigham Young, where he coached quarterbacks Steve Young, Ty Detmer and Jim McMahon.
The Titans might be willing to offer Chow, who reportedly makes $500,000 at USC, a contract in the $800,000 to $900,000 range. The Titans offered Heimerdinger approximately $800,000 before he took New York's offer of $1 million.
''There's another step,'' Fisher said. ''I am going to continue to discuss things with George and Craig next week, and we'll go from there. It's been a productive week.''
Jim Wyatt covers the Titans for The Tennessean. Reach him at 259-8015 or
[email protected]
