The Tennessee Titans have made a stunning move that's sending shockwaves through the NFL: Brian Callahan is out as head coach, just six games into his second season! This isn't just a firing; it's a clear sign that the Titans' leadership felt a drastic change was needed to salvage a season spiraling out of control. But here's where it gets controversial... Was Callahan truly given enough time to turn things around, or were deeper issues plaguing the team?
After a dismal 1-5 start to the 2025 season, the Titans decided to part ways with Callahan on Monday. He leaves with a head coaching record of 4-19, a tenure that can only be described as deeply disappointing for a franchise with playoff aspirations. The team has yet to announce an interim coach, leaving many to wonder who will step in to guide the team through this turbulent period. A somber meeting took place Monday morning between Callahan, Titans GM Mike Borgonzi, and president of football operations Chad Brinker where the news was delivered. Showing a touch of class, owner Amy Adams Strunk also personally reached out to Callahan, according to league sources speaking with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
The 2025 season was particularly brutal. It began with a road loss to the Denver Broncos, a game that highlighted some of the issues that would plague Callahan's tenure.
Remember that Broncos game? With Denver leading 13-12 in the third quarter, rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor made a fantastic 23-yard catch on first-and-20. Ayomanor clearly came down with an elbow in-bounds, which, according to the rules, constitutes a catch. And this is the part most people miss... Callahan bafflingly didn't challenge the play. In his postgame press conference, he incorrectly stated that “an elbow doesn’t equal two feet.” This error proved costly. The Titans punted two plays later and ultimately lost the game by eight points. Callahan later admitted his “interpretation of the rule was wrong,” a statement that did little to soothe the frustration of Titans fans.
But the Broncos game wasn't an isolated incident. In Week 3, during a lopsided loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Titans had an opportunity to narrow the score to within 10 points late in the second quarter. However, a costly delay of game penalty before a 57-yard field goal attempt by Joey Slye pushed them back five yards, despite both teams having already called timeouts. Slye's subsequent 62-yard attempt was blocked, and the Colts capitalized, scoring three points of their own before halftime. It felt like every week brought a new, self-inflicted wound.
Following the Week 3 debacle, Callahan made a significant change, relinquishing play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree. However, the immediate results were hardly inspiring. In Hardegree's first game as play-caller, the Titans were shut out 26-0 by the Houston Texans, handing Houston their first win of the season. Ouch!
The offense, spearheaded by quarterback Cam Ward, the highly touted No. 1 pick from the 2025 NFL Draft, has struggled mightily. They've only managed to score more than 20 points in a single game once this season – and that was in a bizarre Week 5 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Even that win was tainted, as one of their touchdowns came on a play where Ward threw an interception that was then fumbled and recovered by Tennessee in the end zone. Talk about a lucky break!
Callahan's final game was a 20-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, a game in which the offense sputtered, managing a mere 225 total yards. The spark just wasn't there, and the Titans looked listless.
Remember, Callahan was hired in 2024 after the Titans made the surprising decision to move on from Mike Vrabel. Vrabel had been a successful coach, leading Tennessee to two division titles and three playoff appearances, including an AFC Championship Game berth in the 2019 season. He was even named NFL Coach of the Year in 2021. However, growing friction between Vrabel and the Titans' ownership ultimately led to his dismissal after the 2023 season, following 7-10 and 6-11 records in his final two years. It's a bold move to fire a coach with that kind of success, and it put immense pressure on Callahan from day one.
Prior to joining the Titans, Callahan served as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019 to 2023. While he was there, the Bengals ranked 18th in points scored per game and 21st in yards per game. Though he held the title of offensive coordinator, head coach Zac Taylor was the one calling the plays. Before his time in Cincinnati, Callahan held quarterbacks coach positions with the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions, and also served as an assistant in Denver.
Adding another layer to this story is the fact that Callahan is the son of Bill Callahan, a long-time NFL assistant and former head coach of the Raiders and the University of Nebraska. Bill was hired by his son in 2024 to coach the Titans' offensive line, creating a unique father-son dynamic on the coaching staff. But did that relationship ultimately hinder objective decision-making? That's a question worth pondering.
This is a developing story, and more details are sure to emerge in the coming days.
So, what do you think? Was firing Callahan the right move for the Titans? Or did they pull the trigger too soon? Some might argue that he inherited a difficult situation and deserved more time to implement his vision. Others might say that the team's poor performance and questionable decisions on the sidelines warranted immediate action. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
