AP

Ray Horton is leaving Cleveland for Tennessee.

Horton has accepted the Titans’ defensive coordinator job, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports. As we noted earlier this week, Horton was believed to be new Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt’s top choice. Horton was also Whisenhunt’s defensive coordinator in Arizona in 2011 and 2012.

The 53-year-old Horton has long been a well-regarded defensive coordinator, as well as a head-coaching candidate. He interviewed for the Vikings’ head-coaching job this year but lost out to Mike Zimmer.

Horton has also been a secondary coach in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cincinnati and Washington. He was an NFL cornerback from 1983 to 1992, with the Bengals and Cowboys.