4 things to know about Tennessee Titans interim general manager Ryan Cowden

The Tennessee Titans promoted executive vice president of player personnel Ryan Cowden to interim general manager after firing Jon Robinson.

Robinson was fired Tuesday in the middle of his seventh season with the Titans. In that time the Titans have made four playoff appearances including a 2020 AFC Championship. The Titans (7-5) enter Sunday's game with the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) with a three-game lead in the AFC South.

Here's what to know about Cowden:

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Personnel background

Cowden has spent the last seven years with the Titans, first as the director of player personnel before being promoted in 2018 to vice president of player personnel. With the Titans, he has overseen the scouting departments and assisted in NFL Draft prep.

Before joining the Titans, he spent 16 years with the Carolina Panthers, first as a scouting assistant before working his way up to assistant director of college scouting during his last two years there. He was the team national scout for four years before becoming the senior college scout for two more.

General manager candidate

As recently as last offseason, Cowden was being interviewed for general manager jobs around the league. Cowden interviewed with the New York Giants for their opening last season and with the Commanders the year before. It is unknown how far Cowden made it in either process.

He reportedly earned a second interview last offseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Previous NFL Draft success

Cowden has helped the Titans find success in the NFL Draft with names like Derrick Henry, Kevin Byard and AJ Brown, but has also been there for more misses like Caleb Farley and Isaiah Wilson.

With the Panthers, Cowden was there when they drafted two cornerstones for the 2015 Super Bowl appearance: NFL MVP Cam Newton, and 2013 NFL defensive player of the year Luke Kuechly. Other successes in Carolina include Star Lotulelei, Kawann Short and Shaq Thompson.

High school standout, played football at Wofford

Cowden is from Lebanon, Virginia, where he was a four-sport athlete in high school, playing football, basketball, baseball and was on the track and field team.

He started at quarterback, earning All-Region honors before moving to play safety at Wofford College while starting at point guard and in the outfield.

At Wofford, he recorded 52 tackles during his senior year while throwing a touchdown on a fake field goal.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Here's what to know about Tennessee Titans interim GM Ryan Cowden