NASHVILLE, Tenn.: The Tennessee Titans have employed Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their head coach, tasked with making an attempt to show them again into winners and groom Will Levis into their franchise quarterback.
The Titans introduced Wednesday their hiring of the primary of 10 candidates that they interviewed.
They moved shortly Monday when the NFL window opened for second in-individual interviews of present coaches after the divisional playoff spherical, making him the primary coach employed from exterior a group’s group this month.
“Brian has a track record of success and a range of experience that has prepared him for this opportunity,” Titans controlling proprietor Amy Adams Strunk stated in a press release. “His football knowledge and his enthusiasm for the game really stand out, and beyond that, we think his ability to lead will make him the ideal fit for our franchise.”
He will probably be launched at a information convention Thursday.
The Titans interviewed Callahan, 39, on Monday and shortly labored to finalize a contract earlier than he might go away city for interviews with different groups. He replaces Mike Vrabel, fired on Jan. 9 after six seasons with losses in 18 of his ultimate 24 video games.
Callahan would be the franchise’s sixth totally different coach since leaving Texas for Tennessee in 1997. He is also the third coach employed for the reason that NFL common season ended Jan. 7.
New England promoted Jerod Mayo to interchange Bill Belichick, and the Raiders elevated their interim coach, Antonio Pierce. Carolina, the Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta, Seattle and Washington are nonetheless on the lookout for coaches.
Strunk additionally made some organizational modifications, selling common supervisor Ran Carthon, employed final January, to government vice chairman. Assistant GM Chad Brinker now will probably be president of soccer operations.
Carthon may have management of points starting from the roster, personnel choices for the draft and free company, oversight of Callahan and his teaching workers, scouting and sports activities drugs. Brinker will oversee departments that handle the wage cap, analytics, communications and group operations together with safety.
He additionally will proceed to assist with school and NFL scouting.
“This is not my father’s NFL,” stated Strunk, whose late father based the Titans. “As our league continues to evolve in areas like analytics, sports science and technology, football organizations have become more complex and multifaceted.”
Strunk stated that’s why she cut up duties between Carthon and Brinker, who spent 13 seasons in Green Bay earlier than being employed by Tennessee in February 2023. Brinker will maintain soccer operations innovating as Carthon focuses on the group.
She credited Carthon with impressing her with how he builds a roster, fulfilling his popularity as a expertise evaluator and tradition builder that led her to make him the franchise’s first Black GM. She stated Carthon makes the Titans a vacation spot for the NFL’s high expertise, so increasing his position solely made sense.
“Our organization will now benefit more completely from Ran’s unique ability to build and lead a championship-caliber football team,” Strunk stated.
That will enable Callahan, along with his 14 years of NFL expertise, to deal with teaching as a primary-time head coach.
Strunk famous Callahan was with Denver when the Broncos received the Super Bowl for the 2015 season with Peyton Manning and was Cincinnati’s offensive coordinator when the Bengals reached the Super Bowl for the 2021 season — beautiful the Titans then because the AFC’s No. 1 seed to get there.
Callahan is credited with aiding within the growth of quarterback Joe Burrow. He will get the possibility now to work with Levis, the quarterback Tennessee took at No. 33 total final April. Levis went 3-6 as a rookie after taking on in October.
The Titans even have the seventh total draft decide this April and have the third-most wage cap house within the NFL.
The son of former Raiders coach Bill Callahan has been a well-liked goal in head teaching searches. He interviewed with a number of groups final 12 months earlier than opting to remain in Cincinnati. Callahan additionally interviewed just lately with the Chargers for his or her teaching emptiness.
This season, Callahan helped former observe squad quarterback Jake Browning go 4-3 as a starter after a season-ending harm to Burrow, maintaining the Bengals within the playoff combine till the tip. Callahan will get to face his outdated boss Zac Taylor when Cincinnati visits Tennessee this season.
Callahan performed quarterback at UCLA and commenced his NFL profession as a training assistant for the Broncos in 2010 earlier than being promoted to offensive high quality management coach in 2011, after which offensive assistant in 2013.
He was quarterbacks coach for the Lions in 2016-17, working with Matthew Stafford after which with Derek Carr whereas working for the Raiders in 2018 earlier than becoming a member of the Bengals.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
