Tag: Brian Callahan

Titans’ Brian Callahan compares Shedeur Sanders to Joe Burrow

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan compares draft prospect Shedeur Sanders to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

Last week, the Tennessee Titans sent a contingent of executives to the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas.

The biggest talk of the week is the conversations between Titans’ brass and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Sanders is one of the top draft prospects in 2025 and is expected to be in consideration for the Titans’ number one pick.

The Titans began their evaluation process in Texas, and Brian Callahan told ESPN there are three things he looks for in a quarterback: decision-making, timing, and accuracy. When explaining why those three things are important, Callahan compared Sanders to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.

“People had questions about Burrow’s arm strength in general coming out,” Callahan said. “One of the things that makes Joe so unique, and I think you can probably put Shedeur in the same conversation. … They anticipate when they throw it, they have the timing and accuracy on top of it. That makes up for the arm strength.

“Those things are how you make up for maybe not having the biggest arm. If you’re throwing on time and putting a ball when and where you’re supposed to go, you’re not going to have too many problems.”

Being compared to Joe Burrow, who is currently one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL, is high praise for an incoming prospect. Burrow wasn’t expected to have immediate success when the Bengals drafted him, but he broke a few rookie single-game records before injuring his knee and ending his rookie season early. Since then, Burrow is consistently one of the top-performing quarterbacks each year in the NFL.

Sanders’ arm strength isn’t necessarily in question, but his decision-making is. He is accurate and can time his throws well, but only when he’s not holding on to the ball too long. He has a tendency to take unnecessary sacks, which is something he can’t afford to do in the NFL. However, that is an area that is coachable, so if Callahan and Borgonzi think he’s got enough of what it takes, Sanders will likely remain on their board of potential candidates for the top pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

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Titans’ Brian Callahan to continue calling plays in 2025

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan has stated his intentions to continue as offensive play caller heading into the 2025 season.

One of the biggest questions concerning the Tennessee Titans as they headed into the offseason was whether or not head coach Brian Callahan would continue to call plays in 2025.

This has now been answered and it appears that no changes will be made. 

Was this the right decision by Callahan? As a first-time play caller, his 2024 performance left a lot to be desired. The Titans offense was bad, finishing near the bottom of the league in major categories including 27th in points scored and 26th in total offense. More than a statistical struggle, the offense often looked stagnant or unable to maintain momentum when things were working.

Of course, a porous offensive line (especially at right tackle) and uneven quarterback play did hamper the development and growth of the unit, but that does not totally absolve Callahan or give him a pass. He’s the head coach, and he is the one that puts the players on the field. 

Plus, as history shows, being both head coach and play caller does not always lead to success. For every successful Andy Reid, there is an Arthur Smith who struggled to do both. This is also complicated by Callahan’s lack of experience in either role.

Time will tell if Callahan made the right choice, and this decision will likely have a major impact on his future. If he is successful and turns the offense around, great. If he doesn’t, he might not have a third season in Nashville. 

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Brian Callahan on Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward: ‘They’re the best two’

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan says that Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward are the best two quarterbacks in the draft.

The Tennessee Titans desperately need a solution at the quarterback position. Brian Callahan said that Will Levis will train in California with quarterbacks coach Jordan Palmer this offseason in an effort to solidify some of the fundamentals of his game. Footwork, movement in the pocket, decision-making, etc.

But that isn’t the only plan as there are a couple of options at quarterback in the 2025 NFL draft in Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Callahan was asked about them while in Texas this week for the Shrine Bowl.

After lamenting about neither player participating in events, Callahan said, “I really enjoyed meeting Shedeur the person, he’s a really fun guy to talk to. He’s really sharp, I could see all the things, the maturity part of it is pretty impressive. I have not gotten a chance to meet Cam yet, but as far as the tape and all that stuff, they both do really good things on tape. They’re in the discussion for a reason, they are the best quarterbacks that are coming out in this class. You could maybe put one or two other guys in the mix, but those guys are, to me, the best two, so we gotta keep finding out more about them.”

They’re definitely in this discussion for a reason, and since the Titans have the first pick, they literally have their pick of the litter. So, yes, the Titans do need to find out more about these two quarterbacks to determine if they’re ready to make the impact the Titans need them to make or if they need to find quarterback power in free agency and go a different direction with the top pick.

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Titans’ Will Levis to spend time with Jordan Palmer during offseason

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis will train with quarterbacks coach Jordan Palmer this offseason.

One of the biggest focuses for the Tennessee Titans this offseason is to improve the quarterback play. Both Mason Rudolph and Will Levis struggled in 2024, partially due to an offensive line that allowed over 50 sacks, but partially due to poor decision-making. Rudolph’s contract was only for one year and the Titans aren’t expected to bring him back. Levis, though, was drafted in 2023 and has two more years on his contract.

To that end, head coach Brian Callahan has a plan for Levis this offseason.

“I had some things for him, too, that we both talked about. I think he’s going to go spend some time with Jordan Palmer out in California. I really think Jordan is one of the better guys out there right now, in terms of working with pro quarterbacks, and so, hopefully, that’s an illuminating process for him, a different way of doing things.”

Callahan added that Levis will be out there for a couple of months and that he thinks it will be really beneficial for Levis to spend time with Palmer.

Jordan Palmer is the younger brother of former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. He didn’t have the same level of success as his brother as a player, but he has spent the last two years as the Director of quarterback development for the XFL.

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Titans’ Brian Callahan already comfortable with new GM Mike Borgonzi

The Tennessee Titans have a new general manager in Mike Borgonzi and it appears that the new front office structure is off to a good start.

The new Tennessee Titans braintrust is out on the scouting trail and will be front-and-center at events this year at the East-West Shrine Bowl. They have already met with quarterback Shedeur Sanders and will likely meet with the other top prospects throughout the week. 

The good news coming out of the week so far is that new general manager Mike Borgonzi and head coach Brian Callahan appear to be in lock-step with the philosophy being implemented in Nashville. 

This is something Callahan shared with Jim Wyatt. 

“Just a really good guy, really sharp, organized, detailed, disciplined with the approach,” Callahan said of Borgonzi. “I’ve really enjoyed being around him, and I’m excited about him. I’m excited about what he believes in and how he goes about his scouting process. That part is really cool.”

This is a critical season for Callahan, who must improve on the dismal 3-14 campaign he oversaw in 2024. The Titans have a lot of assets in place and have an opportunity to get better in a hurry if they can fill some holes on their roster. Time will tell if this new philosophy works out, but at least they are off to a good start.

The 100th East-West Shrine Bowl will take place on January 30. 

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Brian Callahan on Shedeur Sanders: ‘He knows how to handle himself’

The Tennessee Titans sent a delegation to Texas ahead of the Shrine Bowl, and Brian Callahan spoke at length with Shedeur Sanders.

On January 30th, the best players in college football will meet in the 2025 Shrine Bowl. Players began arriving earlier this week and the Tennessee Titans sent a delegation of their own to North Texas University to get eyes on the talent.

It didn’t take long for Callahan to spot one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shedeur Sanders, and to introduce himself. That turned into a 15-minute conversation that left Titans executives impressed with Sanders.

“You can tell he’s been raised right,” Callahan said. “He’s mature, he has a really poised way about him, and he seems like a really good kid. I enjoyed talking to him. And, you could tell he’s a guy who has been in the spotlight. He knows how to handle himself, he’s been paid money, so he has a financial perspective. It was a really good first impression.”

Callahan also mentioned Sanders’ toughness, how he took shots and kept rolling. And he strangely had this comment as well:

A financial perspective? That’s definitely an interesting comment about an incoming player, especially since Sanders certainly isn’t the only college player to be paid in 2024.

Sanders is considered the second-best quarterback in the 2025 draft class behind Miami’s Cam Ward, but Ward isn’t in Texas and won’t be in Alabama for the Senior Bowl either, giving Sanders an opportunity to get ahead of the game.

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Titans’ next GM will likely enter job with handcuffs already on

It seems that Tennessee Titans president of football operations, Chad Brinker, is the real head honcho, regardless of who is hired as GM.

Tennessee Titans president of football operations, Chad Brinker, has been tasked with finding a new general manager after the team decided to part ways with Ran Carthon after just two seasons.

The team that won six games in Carthon’s first season as GM saw half as many wins in his second year, which is what Amy Adams Strunk cited as the reason for his departure.

Brinker joined the Titans in 2023 as Carthon’s assistant general manager and was promoted to his current position at the conclusion of the 2023 season. This happened in the same breath (almost) as the firing of Mike Vrabel while Carthon remained on as general manager.

Brinker and Carthon seemed to have a relationship that was tighter than ever, Brinker even saying that they “clicked right away” and were very much on the same page.

So, what happened in 2024 to change all of that? Brian Callahan became the head coach and Will Levis became the starting quarterback. And remember: Brinker helped draft Levis in 2023 and certainly had a hand in Callahan’s hiring.

But Carthon took all the heat for all of 2024’s failures, and the Titans’ messaging has become muddied and unclear.

And it appears that Brinker will have the final say in all personnel decisions going forward, so what kind of power is a new general manager really going to have? It’s so muddied that even the NFL took its time to approve the Titans’ job posting.

This is because the Titans want to give Brinker the “tie-breaking vote” between Callahan and the new general manager when it comes to personnel decisions.

From the outside looking in, it appears that Brinker has all of the power with player personnel for the Titans and that whoever comes in as general manager will simply be a face. The way this is being handled by the organization is not going to pan out well because who wants that job? No one wants to be the person to come in, have no power, and then be the scapegoat when it all falls apart.

The Titans must do better. And if the GM is going to have actual power, they need to make very clear where those lines are and what responsibilities they actually have.

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NFL analyst gives Titans failing grade for 2024

CBS Sports analyst Will Brinson gave the Tennessee Titans a failing grade in his end of the season review of all 32 teams.

The Tennessee Titans finished off their miserable 2024 campaign with a 23-14 loss to the Houston Texans and officially became the worst team in the NFL.

That defeat, coupled with a New England victory, thrust the Titans into prime draft position when they secured the first-overall selection in the 2025 NFL draft.

Now that the season is over, it is a great time to look back and see what went wrong and of course, dish out the season grade. That is what Will Brinson did for CBS Sports in his article,  Sorting the Sunday Pile.

Titans – F

They finished as the worst team in football and now have a decision to make on whether they want to take a quarterback up top or try and keep turning Will Levis into Josh Allen 2.0. (That’s a Pete Prisco joke in case you think I’m serious.) It wouldn’t have been all that shocking if they moved on from Brian Callahan, but the expectations were reasonably low for this team, so it probably would have been a pretty hefty knee-jerk reaction. There are some nice pieces on offense but the OL has to improve. Again, when you have the No. 1 pick coming out of the year, things probably didn’t go as planned.

Brinson is spot on. It was a disappointing season and only added to more questions for a team that enters the offseason with many. The Titans do have some talent across their roster, but they also have some major holes and in this draft, the top pick will only help so much.

The Titans need to make some changes to their staff while improving the roster. Right tackle is a huge hole, the quarterback situation is a mess and they need more playmakers across the board. They also need to get healthy. Several veteran additions missed significant time in 2024 and that didn’t help the cause.

There is no question the Titans failed in 2024 and they truly deserved the F they received.

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Is Titans’ Brian Callahan in or out after Ran Carthon firing?

The Tennessee Titans fired general manager Ran Carthon on Tuesday, leaving Brian Callahan’s future as head coach in question.

On Tuesday, Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk announced that the team would be parting ways with general manager Ran Carthon after two seasons.

In her post on X, she indicated that while she has enjoyed working with Carthon, she can’t deny that the team has seen no improvement in two seasons.

She’s not wrong. The Titans won six games in 2023 and only three in 2024 after Carthon got to help hire the next head coach in Brian Callahan. With Carthon now gone, though, what does that mean for Callahan’s future?

If we’re being honest, we have to acknowledge that many prospective general managers will want to choose the next head coach. There aren’t many, if any, GMs who will accept a currently seated coach, especially if the team hasn’t been successful.

The Titans have not been successful under Brian Callahan. In fact, they were worse than when Mike Vrabel last coached.

There was a decline, not an improvement. And maybe some of the losses wouldn’t feel so bad if the team actually looked like it was improving. But it was the same issues week in and week out, almost as if Callahan was trying to will this team to fit his scheme when he should have been adjusting his scheme to the players he has.

It’s unlikely that Callahan will remain the head coach after Carthon’s firing. Stranger things have happened, and it is possible considering that Carthon was hired with a sitting head coach. But given how things went in 2024, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Titans wiped the slate clean and started over. Again.

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Titans vs. Texans: 5 things to know ahead of Week 18

The Tennessee Titans host the Houston Texans on Sunday in Nashville and here are five things fans should know about the Week 18 game.

The Tennessee Titans disaster of a 2024 season will mercifully come to an end on Sunday. The team will welcome the Texans into town to close the season.

Per BetMGM, the Texans are 1-point favorites and the over/under is set at 38.5 points. The Titans enter the contest with a 3-13 record while the Texans are 9-7.

While it may seem like there’s not much for the Titans to play for here, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Now, let’s go over five things to know ahead of this Week 18 game.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Draft position implications are huge

The Tennessee Titans could be on the verge of earning their highest draft pick since at least 2015. If the Titans lose and the Patriots win against the Bills, the Titans would own the No. 1 pick.

However, if the Titans stumble into a win, the team could fall all the way down to the No. 7 pick depending on what else happens in the league. Therefore, this game could end up being franchise-altering for the Titans.

Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Texans already clinched the AFC South

The Houston Texans have already clinched the AFC South. That has more to do with the rest of the division being horrible than it does with the Texans being great, but still.

This means the Texans don’t have much to play for. Sure, they’d love to beat the Titans and get revenge, but that’s not worth risking injury ahead of the playoffs. Regardless of what happens here, the Texans are champions of the AFC South.

Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Titans could potentially sweep the Texans

The Titans surprisingly took down the Texans in Houston last month. The team has not won a game since then while the Texans are 2-2 since.

Considering the Texans have already clinched the AFC South, the team may decide to rest its starters. This means the Titans have a decent shot of beating the Texans again, sweeping the season series with their bitter rivals.

Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

Titans busting out the Oiler throwbacks

The Titans will wear the Houston Oilers throwback uniforms for the first time in 2024 in Week 18. The team debuted the modernized throwbacks last season but will only wear them once in 2024.

The Titans played the Texans in Houston last season wearing these throwbacks and lost. There’s no love lost between these teams and it’s no coincidence that the Titans chose this game to wear them.

Courtney Culbreath/Getty Images

Titans could go 1-5 in AFC South games

The Titans are on the precipice of going 1-5 in AFC South games in 2024. This is a pitiful showing for Brian Callahan in his first season at the helm.

Losing divisional games is a surefire way to put you in the bad graces of fans. The Titans got swept by the Jaguars and the Colts this season, and that’s just unacceptable.

In this case, however, Titans’ fans might rather go 1-5 in the division than sweep the Texans and get a worse draft pick.

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