The Tennessee Titans have made a significant change in leadership as they announced the hiring of Brian Callahan as their new head coach. Callahan, who was previously the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, will be tasked with turning the Titans back into a winning team and developing young quarterback Will Levis into their franchise signal-caller.
After conducting interviews with 10 candidates, the Titans wasted no time in securing Callahan as their top choice. He becomes the first coach to be hired from outside a team's organization this month. The team acted swiftly, taking advantage of the NFL window for second in-person interviews of current coaches following the divisional playoff round.
In a statement, Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk expressed her confidence in Callahan's abilities and leadership qualities. She cited his track record of success and his extensive experience in football as the reasons for his selection. Strunk believes Callahan's football knowledge, enthusiasm, and ability to lead will make him the ideal fit for the franchise.
Callahan, 39 years old, was interviewed on Monday, and the Titans moved quickly to finalize a contract before he could explore other opportunities. He takes over from Mike Vrabel, who was relieved of his duties after a disappointing stretch with losses in 18 of the last 24 games.
This appointment marks the sixth different head coach for the Titans since their relocation from Texas to Tennessee in 1997. Callahan is also the third coach to be hired since the end of the NFL regular season on January 7. Other teams, including the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, have also made coaching changes, while several franchises are still in search of a new leader.
In addition to hiring Callahan, the Titans also made organizational changes within their front office. Ran Carthon, who was hired as general manager last January, has been promoted to the position of executive vice president. Carthon will oversee various aspects of the team, including the roster, personnel decisions, coaching staff, scouting, and sports medicine. Assistant GM Chad Brinker has now become the president of football operations and will be responsible for the salary cap, analytics, communications, team operations, and security.
Strunk explained that the decision to split duties between Carthon and Brinker was made to adapt to the changing landscape of the NFL. As the league continues to evolve with new technologies and approaches, football organizations have become more multifaceted. Strunk believes that Carthon's talent evaluation and culture-building skills, along with Brinker's innovative approach to football operations, will enable the Titans to excel in various areas.
Callahan brings 14 years of NFL experience to his new role as a first-time head coach. Notably, he was part of the Denver Broncos coaching staff when they won the Super Bowl in the 2015 season with Peyton Manning at quarterback. Callahan also served as the offensive coordinator for the Bengals when they reached the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, stunning the Titans, who were the AFC's top seed at the time.
One of Callahan's primary responsibilities will be developing quarterback Will Levis, whom the Titans drafted at No. 33 overall last April. Levis took over as the starting quarterback during his rookie season, but the team struggled, finishing with a 3-6 record. With the seventh overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft and ample salary cap space, the Titans have the resources to build a strong team around Levis.
Callahan's ability to aid in the development of quarterbacks, as demonstrated during his time with the Bengals and Joe Burrow, garnered him attention from several teams in previous head coaching searches. Last year, he opted to stay in Cincinnati. More recently, Callahan interviewed with the Los Angeles Chargers for their vacant coaching position.
In the 2021 season, Callahan played a crucial role in the Bengals' success when former practice squad quarterback Jake Browning filled in for the injured Burrow, going 4-3 as a starter and keeping the team in playoff contention. Callahan will have the opportunity to face his former boss, Zac Taylor, when the Bengals face the Titans during the upcoming season.
The Titans organization is optimistic about the future with the appointment of Brian Callahan as head coach. With his wealth of experience, football knowledge, and ability to develop young quarterbacks, the team hopes that Callahan can revitalize the franchise, guiding them back to their winning ways. The official introduction of Callahan as head coach will take place during a news conference on Thursday.
