After a tough 3-14 season, the Tennessee Titans decided to make some changes to improve and become a successful team. To begin this process, Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker led the search for a new general manager after parting ways with Ran Carthon, who had been in the role for two years.
The team initially conducted 10 virtual interviews, then narrowed it down to six in-person meetings. They eventually chose Mike Borgonzi, who held his first press conference as the new general manager on Wednesday.
Borgonzi had spent 16 years with the Kansas City Chiefs, most recently as their assistant general manager for the past four years, after being promoted in 2021. Before that, he was the Chiefs’ director of football operations for three years and served as director of player personnel in 2017.
Borgonzi began his career with Kansas City in 2009 as the college scouting administrator. He moved up the ranks, becoming the manager of football operations in 2010, and later worked as a pro personnel scout from 2011 to 2012. Borgonzi also spent time as assistant director of pro scouting in 2013 and 2014, and as co-director of player personnel from 2015 to 2016.
Before joining the Chiefs, Borgonzi worked as the assistant recruiting coordinator at Boston College from 2007 to 2008. During his time there, the team played in two ACC championships and won the 2007 Champs Sports Bowl.
While working in Kansas City, Borgonzi learned a lot from former Chiefs general manager John Dorsey, who had previously played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers from 1984 to 1989.
Dorsey worked in various roles in the Packers’ personnel department between 1991 and 2011. Borgonzi also mentioned that Chiefs coach Andy Reid played a big role in his development.
Borgonzi talked about his time with the Chiefs
“I was fortunate to be part of a winning culture that [Reid] instilled every day,” Borgonzi said.
Reid started his career in the NFL as an assistant offensive line coach for the Packers in 1992.
Borgonzi’s familiarity with the Packers’ way of doing things was a key reason Brinker was drawn to him. Brinker had worked in the Green Bay front office before joining the Titans in 2023. He had seen the Packers achieve a 139-77 record and win a Super Bowl during his time there.
“Mike learned [the Packers’] system from John Dorsey in Kansas City, Andy Reid was in Green Bay at one time,” Brinker said. “So when Mike and I sit down and when we talk and we talk about a player… we speak the same language.”
Brinker, who had various roles in Green Bay, developed a philosophy about how to build a winning team. This philosophy is about drafting players, developing them, and retaining them—a process that requires patience and discipline.
After meeting with team owner Amy Adams Strunk following the season, Brinker suggested they bring in a top talent evaluator to help build a winning team. That’s when they decided to hire Borgonzi, who will need to get to work quickly since the free-agency period starts on March 12.
The Titans will focus on free agents, but Brinker believes the main focus will be the draft.
“The foundation of our roster is going to be built through the draft, and we’re going to be selective in free agency,” Brinker said.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan has seen how the draft can bring in talented players. When he was the offensive coordinator for the Bengals in 2020, they used the top pick on quarterback Joe Burrow, who became their franchise quarterback.
The Bengals also added wide receiver Tee Higgins in the second round and linebacker Logan Wilson in the third. Wilson has posted at least 100 tackles in four of the last five seasons.
“You not only get the first overall pick, you get the first pick in the rounds after that as well,” Callahan said. “You have a chance to improve your team. I’ve seen it done. I’ve been a part of it.”
Titans will face challenges
However, it may be harder for the Titans to achieve the same success in the draft this time. Currently, they only have two picks in the top 100 (No. 1 and No. 35). They traded their third-round pick to the Chiefs in exchange for cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and a swap of seventh-round picks for 2024.
“I would love to have 30 picks over the next three years and 12 of those picks come from the top 100,” Brinker said.
The Titans have only eight picks in the top 100 over the next three years, so Borgonzi will need to find ways to improve the team’s draft capital.
Borgonzi’s job will be to work closely with Callahan to get the Titans back on track. Team owner Amy Adams Strunk has shown that she’s willing to make changes if the team doesn’t improve. She has fired a head coach or general manager every year for the last three seasons, starting with general manager Jon Robinson in December 2022, followed by coach Mike Vrabel in January and Carthon just two weeks ago.
“It starts with being 3-14 as a football team and winning nine games over the last 34,” Titans president and CEO Burke Nihill said. “The assessment that Amy’s done is to go from a three-win team to a championship football team, we need to reevaluate the experience set and the skillset of the general manager position.”
The Titans want to create a leadership team that works together well, from coaching to scouting to ownership. The general manager will be in charge of the personnel staff and the coaching staff. He will help set the strategies for free agency and the draft, and work with the coaching team to make the whole process come together.
“My vision as a team builder is to draft and develop,” Borgonzi said. “We want to build a foundation of homegrown talent and reward those players that meet our standards.”
