Lead: The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Monday in Henderson, Nevada, that Travis Smith has been hired as the team’s defensive line coach. Smith returns to the Raiders organization after a one-year stint as the Tennessee Titans’ defensive run game coordinator in 2025 and brings a track record of developing interior and edge defenders. His recent work included coaching DT Jeffery Simmons to a fourth Pro Bowl and leading several statistical categories among NFL interior linemen in 2025. The move signals the Raiders’ intent to reinforce their defensive front with a coach familiar with the club and proven at both position-group and schematic coaching.
Key Takeaways
- Hiring: Travis Smith was named Las Vegas Raiders defensive line coach on Monday; announcement made from Henderson, Nev.
- Titans (2025): Smith served one season as Tennessee’s defensive run game coordinator and helped DT Jeffery Simmons earn a fourth Pro Bowl, with Simmons leading NFL interior linemen in solo tackles (39), TFL (17), sacks (11), sack yards (79.0), pressures (60) and forced fumbles (3).
- Bears tenure (2022–24): Smith spent three seasons as Chicago’s defensive line coach; in 2024 the Bears recorded 40 sacks and 16 players with at least one sack.
- Bears run defense (2023): Chicago ranked first in fewest rushing yards allowed (1,468), fifth in yards per carry (3.78) and second-fewest rushing TDs allowed (8) in 2023 under Smith’s line coaching.
- Raiders roots (2012–21): Smith logged 10 seasons with Oakland/Las Vegas in roles including assistant defensive line and defensive quality control, giving him institutional familiarity with the organization.
- Player development: Smith helped develop Pro Bowl talents such as Maxx Crosby (first Pro Bowl in 2021) and aided rookie pass-rush production in 2019 that produced 14.5 combined sacks for Crosby and Clelin Ferrell.
- Versatility: Smith’s resume spans collegiate internships and multiple NFL position groups, indicating experience across scheme design and positional technique.
Background
Travis Smith’s coaching arc traces a common NFL pattern: early collegiate and entry-level roles, a lengthy apprenticeship with one franchise, followed by moves to expand responsibility. After assistant and quality-control posts at Cal Poly, Santa Monica College and the University of Colorado, Smith entered the Raiders’ staff in 2012 and built a decade-long association that exposed him to varied defensive responsibilities.
From 2012 to 2021 Smith rotated through defensive assistant, outside linebackers and defensive-quality control jobs with Oakland/Las Vegas, developing working relationships with front-seven standouts such as Khalil Mack and Maxx Crosby. That continuity is notable in an NFL environment where coaching staffs frequently change and positional coaching is a key driver of player performance and schematic consistency.
Main Event
The Raiders’ Monday release confirmed Smith’s appointment as defensive line coach, a role focused on coaching interior and edge linemen, collaborating with coordinators on pass-rush and run-defense game plans, and overseeing technical development. The club framed the hire as both a return and an upgrade in on-field experience given Smith’s 2025 coordinator title in Tennessee.
Smith’s single season with the Titans (2025) was statistically influential at the individual level; DT Jeffery Simmons posted career-recognized numbers and league-leading interior metrics that season. That performance was cited by the Raiders as evidence of Smith’s capacity to produce pass-rush and run-stopping results from interior spots.
Chicago’s 2022–24 run gave Smith sustained responsibility as a unit coach; the Bears’ 2023 top-ranked rush defense and the 2024 total of 40 sacks were used to demonstrate his ability to balance gap integrity with pressure creation. The Raiders will task him with applying those principles to their current roster while integrating younger front-seven players.
Analysis & Implications
Strategically, the hire reunites a coach with organizational knowledge and positions the Raiders to accelerate development of their defensive front. Smith’s prior work with Maxx Crosby and edge rookies indicates familiarity with teaching technique to both veteran stars and less-experienced players, which matters for roster groups blending youth and established talent.
Statistically, Smith’s recent indoor success with Jeffery Simmons highlights an emphasis on interior disruption. If Smith can replicate pressure rates and tackles-for-loss production within the Raiders’ scheme, Las Vegas could see improved third-down stops and increased negative plays for opposing offenses—outcomes that often translate to better field-position and points-allowed metrics.
On the staff level, the move may influence scheme continuity. A defensive line coach who has served as a run-game coordinator suggests the Raiders will prioritize alignment between line techniques and linebacker/pattern-read responsibilities. That cohesion can reduce missed assignments and improve gap accountability against both power-running teams and zone-read offenses.
Comparison & Data
| Season/Team | Key Stat | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Titans (2025) — Jeffery Simmons | Sacks | 11 |
| Titans (2025) — Jeffery Simmons | Solo tackles | 39 |
| Bears (2024) | Total sacks | 40 |
| Bears (2023) | Rushing yards allowed | 1,468 (1st) |
| Raiders (2021) — Maxx Crosby | Sacks | 8 |
These figures illustrate the two-dimensional nature of Smith’s résumé: individual linemen posting high disruption numbers (Simmons, Crosby) and unit-level run/pass metrics (Chicago’s 2023–24 outputs). Translating individual success into consistent unit performance will be one of Smith’s primary challenges in Las Vegas.
Reactions & Quotes
Las Vegas announced the hire in an official club statement Monday describing Smith as the team’s new defensive line coach.
Las Vegas Raiders (official announcement)
The Tennessee staff list for 2025 credits Smith as the defensive run game coordinator responsible for interior-line game plans that correlated with Jeffery Simmons’ Pro Bowl season.
Tennessee Titans (team records/season summary)
Observers note Smith’s prior Raiders tenure (2012–21) included developmental work with Maxx Crosby and other front-seven players, a factor in the club bringing him back.
Independent coverage / team archives
Unconfirmed
- Contract specifics for Smith’s deal with the Raiders (term and compensation) were not disclosed in the club release.
- Internal staff structure changes beyond the defensive line coach role—such as additional coordinator responsibilities—have not been publicly confirmed.
- How quickly Smith’s methods will affect measurable team metrics (sacks, run defense) in regular-season play remains to be seen and will depend on personnel health and scheme fit.
Bottom Line
The Raiders’ hiring of Travis Smith reunites a coach with decade-long ties to the organization and a recent record of producing high-impact performances from defensive linemen. Smith’s mixture of positional coaching and a brief coordinator title suggests Las Vegas is prioritizing both technique and run-game planning as it seeks to strengthen the front seven.
Expect the immediate focus to be on translating past individual successes—like the development of Maxx Crosby and Jeffery Simmons’ 2025 output—into consistent unit performance. The measurable impact will become clearer once the staff’s scheme implementations align with the roster and enter a full offseason and training-camp cycle.