The Tennessee Titans are set to appoint Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their next head coach, as reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Callahan underwent his second interview with the Titans on Monday. The 39-year-old recently completed his fifth season as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, joining forces with Zac Taylor when Taylor assumed the head coaching position in Cincinnati.
With 13 years of NFL coaching experience, Callahan’s career kicked off in 2010 as a coaching assistant with the Denver Broncos.
Interview with Amy Adams Strunk pic.twitter.com/w9CkHBN1Fb
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 9, 2024
He remained with the Broncos through their Super Bowl-winning 2015 season, later serving as the quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions in 2016 and 2017. In 2018, he took on the same role with the Oakland Raiders before joining the Bengals.
The decision to part ways with former head coach Mike Vrabel was made by Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk on January 9. Strunk explained her choice in an interview.
The Titans experienced six consecutive winning seasons from 2016 to 2021, with notable achievements such as an AFC Championship Game appearance in 2019 and AFC South titles in 2020 and 2021.
However, the team’s performance declined in 2022 after a promising 7-3 start, resulting in seven consecutive losses to conclude the season. The 2023 season saw the Titans finish with a 6-11 record, placing them last in the AFC South.
The primary issue was the team’s lackluster offensive performance, ranking 27th out of 32 NFL teams in scoring.
Despite having standout players like running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, the Titans struggled to generate offensive output.
The team’s quarterback situation showed promise with 2023 second-round pick Will Levis, who displayed notable performances throughout the season.
Looking ahead, Callahan will need to address the potential departure of Henry, an impending free agent, and work with Levis as a potential franchise quarterback. The wide receiver corps beyond Hopkins also needs improvement, as no other receiver caught more than 28 passes.
Defensively, the Titans were average, and the return of two-time Pro Bowler Jeffery Simmons from injury is expected to bolster the team. However, additional help in the secondary is needed, especially after dealing Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles midseason.
In summary, Callahan takes charge of a 6-11 team in a division with three teams that finished with winning records. The Titans are currently expected to finish last in the AFC South, presenting Callahan with the challenging task of steering the team back on course.
