The Tennessee Titans appear to have named their next head coach. According to information released this Monday (23) by NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero, the franchise plans to hire Brian Callahan, current offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, to occupy the position of head coach. Callahan, 39, spent the last five seasons with the Bengals as part of the coaching staff led by head coach Zac Taylor. During this period, Cincinnati’s offense, with Joe Burrow at quarterback, demonstrated significant improvements each season.
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Brian Callahan was the first candidate for the job to meet with the Titans this month and had a second interview with the team on Monday. His name has also sparked interest from other teams, including the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers.
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In addition to Callahan, other finalists considered for the head coaching vacancy in Tennessee were Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, and Thomas Brown, offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. Callahan’s coaching career began as an assistant on the Denver Broncos offense, followed by stints as a quarterbacks coach with the Detroit Lions (2016 to 2017) and Las Vegas Raiders (2018). Over the years, he has collaborated with renowned quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, Derek Carr and Joe Burrow.
Callahan will take over a team led by 2023 second-round quarterback Will Levis, who started nine games as a rookie. Despite an impressive four-touchdown debut in Week 8, Levis faced consistency challenges as a starter, finishing the season with eight touchdown passes and four interceptions. The Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel in a surprising move on Jan. 9 after a 54-45 record but just 6-11 in 2023. With the uncertain futures of key players like Derrick Henry and Ryan Tannehill, who are about to become free agents, and the seventh overall pick in the next Draft, the team is going through a period of reconstruction. Additionally, he should have the third-largest salary cap space in the league, according to Spotrac.