Tag: Brian Callahan

Titans’ Brian Callahan unsure on what his future holds

Tennessee Titans head coach spoke to the media and admits he does not know what his end of the year meeting with the owner holds.

Another week, another humiliating loss for the Tennessee Titans and there are serious questions about the team as the season draws near an end.

One question that has come up multiple times in recent weeks during head coach Brian Callahan’s weekly press conference is about his job security, and it happened again this week when he was asked if he expected to have to”‘make a case” for himself at the end of the season to owner Amy Adams Strunk.

His response: “I don’t know.”

This answer does not inspire any confidence, to say the least, and sounds like a coach that is already preparing for the worst.

While Callahan being let go after one season seemed far-fetched a few weeks ago, with every failure and debacle on the field, it feels like a distinct possibility. The Titans have not progressed in any way this season, especially on offense. Now, with injuries piling up on defense, the one unit that kept them afloat is struggling.

Callahan can’t be blamed for the injuries, but the lack of offensive production and the regression of Will Levis is all on him. He calls the plays for an offense that lacks an identity and has turned the ball over more than any other unit in the NFL. That all doesn’t fall on Levis and his poor decision making.

The Titans have shown fight and that is a great characteristic for a team that is struggling like they are. But the fact that they suffer from the same inconsistencies every week is mind boggling.

No matter what, at the very least, he must overhaul his staff. The special teams are atrocious, the offense is stale and the offensive line might be the worst unit in the NFL. Changes definitely must be made. Which leads us back to Callahan, who may or may not have to make a case for himself.

No one knows what owner Amy Adams Strunk may be thinking, but if I were Callahan, I’d already be working on a blueprint to right the ship. He might just need it.

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Titans vs. Colts: 5 things to know for Week 16

The Tennessee Titans face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16. Here are the five biggest storylines to follow for this contest.

The Tennessee Titans are gearing up for an AFC South showdown with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16. This will be the final meeting between the teams until 2025.

In the first meeting, the Titans fell, 20-17, in Nashville. It was a game the Titans could have won, but the team got outscored 10-0 in the 4th quarter.

Per BetMGM, the Colts are 3.5-point favorites over the Titans with an over/under of 42.5. Now, let’s identify the five things to know for this game.

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Titans last win vs. Colts was over 2 years ago

Matt Ryan was the quarterback of the Colts the last time they lost to the Titans. The Colts swept the Titans in 2023 and won the first matchup in 2024, meaning it’s been over two calendar years since the Titans beat their rivals.

The Titans would love to stop the streak this weekend. The Colts technically are alive in the playoff race, and a loss to the Titans would end any of that talk.

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Both teams have disappointed in 2024

If the season ended today, neither of these teams would sniff the playoffs. The Titans have been officially eliminated for a couple of weeks, while the Colts have a slim-but-not-zero chance still.

Coming into the season, the Colts were seen as a team that could compete for a wild card spot or perhaps even the division. Anthony Richardson was supposed to step up and prove he belongs as a starting quarterback.

Instead, Richardson was benched for a stretch. Granted, the quarterback regained his starting job, but he hasn’t been great since then either. The Titans? Well, we know what happened there.

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Richardson has only played the Titans once

Anthony Richardson was injured during the second Titans-Colts meeting in 2023. The quarterback was banged up/benched for the first meeting this year as well.

The Titans have an entirely new coaching staff this year as well, so Richardson has never faced a Brian Callahan-led Titans team. Granted, the Callahan-led Titans team is 3-11, but still.

Perhaps the Titans will take advantage of Richardson’s inexperience this weekend.

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Mason Rudolph is the new starter

Mason Rudolph is the starting quarterback for the Titans now. It should have happened sooner, but better late than never.

Rudolph didn’t get to start against the Colts in the first game. Will Levis started and managed to throw for just 95 yards and the Titans still almost won. I can almost guarantee Rudolph will throw for 100-plus yards this weekend.

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Brian Callahan doesn’t think his team is soft

Brian Callahan went on an NSFW rant on Wednesday. The coach got agitated when a reporter asked if the Titans were a “soft” team.

Callahan couldn’t believe that anyone would dare question his team’s makeup. Do soft teams get blown out weekly, make mental errors, and look unenthused? Oh, wait…

It will be interesting to see if Callahan’s fiery presser inspires this team for a rivalry game.

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Brian Callahan went on an enraged rant about the Titans’ supposed lack of toughness

The Titans aren’t soft. They just suck.

I need to make one thing clear for you, dearest readers.

The next time you wonder whether your awful favorite NFL team is playing terribly because the players are soft … don’t. NFL players, by and large, are grown men with so much more strength and athleticism than the average human. They put themselves through unfathomable physical punishment on a weekly basis. It is the kind of punishment that would likely put most of us regular people with “normal” day jobs in the hospital at the slightest exposure.

They are not soft, at least in the colloquial usage of the word. Far from it.

In the midst of a tough 3-11 season, a Tennessee Titans reporter learned this the hard way on Wednesday when they asked head Brian Callahan if he thought his team was soft.

Callahan reacted appropriately to the mere suggestion his Titans players weren’t tough enough with a fiery, extended rant.

(Warning: NSFW language in the video below.)

Good for Callahan. I’m sure Titans players genuinely loved seeing this defensive passion from him.

On that note, let’s make another thing clear.

The two main quarterbacks to play for the Titans this year — Will Levis and Mason Rudolph — have a combined 20 turnovers between them. They’re two of the least efficient passers in pro football. Unsurprisingly, Tennessee is just 30th in expected points added (EPA) per play, according to RBDSM.com. The middling defense doesn’t get much better with a unit ranked 19th in EPA per play. The Titans don’t get stops. At all.

These Titans aren’t soft. They just suck. They’re simply not a good football team. Let’s all remember that saying the former is a big leap to make about anyone’s character. Please?

Titans’ Brian Callahan botches message on accountability with Will Levis comments

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan had some interesting things to say during his press conference, but one will likely miss the mark.

During the same press conference where Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan talked about the quarterback situation, he made an interesting comment. 

“(One) Potential benefit of moving away from Levis is that guys in the locker room want to feel that all players are held accountable.” 

That is not only an interesting statement but also a bit contradictory to what has happened throughout 2024. Where have the other examples of accountability been? 

Players have been benched, like tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere, only to regain their starting position while playing at the same subpar level. Was this accountability the reason Leroy Watson was released after coming off an injury? It’s definitely hard to see. 

Then there is the accountability of the coaching staff or lack thereof. Offensive coordinator Nick Holz has led an inept offense that lacks identity and has no creativity.  The offensive line, coached by Bill Callahan, may be the worst unit in the NFL. The special teams are the worst in the league. They are terrible, and their coach, Colt Anderson, even admitted that he didn’t know how to fix it two weeks ago. 

Benching Levis is one thing, but his performance was bad, and he clearly isn’t the answer. But saying this is to show accountability to the locker room is a joke. Callahan has not held anyone accountable all season, especially on his coaching staff, and that is a major reason the Titans sit here at 3-11. 

The Titans will face the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16, and maybe Brian Callahan will hold himself accountable and put a winning team on the field.

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Titans’ Brian Callahan not naming starting quarterback for Week 16

The Tennessee Titans have a quarterback controversy and head coach Brian Callahan does not know who will start in Week 16.

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis is coming off a horrendous game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday and now questions surround his status for the rest of 2024. During his press conference, head coach Brian Callahan said that he is going to use the next few days to decide who his starting QB will be. 

Levis was extremely bad against the Bengals and looked nothing like the player that has been playing over the past few games. Callahan benched Levis in the third quarter after he threw his third interception of the game. In total, he went 8-for-12 for 89 yards, zero touchdowns, three interceptions, was sacked once, and lost a fumble.  At one point, he had three interceptions in five passes. 

Mason Rudolph came in and added veteran leadership and poise, but he didn’t set the world on fire either. He went 20-for-25 for 196 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw an interception, and his touchdown pass was on the game’s last play. It was not a dynamic performance, but it was better than Levis. 

Levis had shown positive signs before imploding against the Bengals, but it is becoming clear that he isn’t the answer at the quarterback position. Rudolph is a solid backup but hasn’t been able to seize the opportunity when presented. 

Now Callahan will face one of the biggest decisions of his brief stint as head coach: who will start on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts. This not only impacts the 2024 season, but it may also shape their fortunes moving forward. 

Who would you select to start against the Colts in Week 16? Chime in and let us know your thoughts. 

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Titans vs. Bengals: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 15

The Tennessee Titans will meet the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15 action. Here are three reasons for optimism.

The Tennessee Titans are coming off another bad loss, falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 10-6, in Week 14

This week, the Titans (3-10) will play the Cincinnati Bengals as head coach Brian Callahan takes on his former team. The Bengals still have an outside shot at the playoffs and are riding a hot quarterback, but Callahan would like nothing more than to pull the upset.

The Titans may be big underdogs, but they have a chance. Here are three reasons to be optimistic they can pull this one out.

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Brian Callahan

Brian Callahan was the offensive coordinator with the Bengals before parlaying that role into his job with the Titans. He not only understands their systems and what they like to do, but he also knows the personnel and ways the Titans can attack their tendencies. While the game comes down to players and execution on the field, this should be a game in which Callahan makes the right calls and puts his players in those positions.

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Bengals defense

Yes, the Titans struggled last week against the 32nd-ranked defense of the Jaguars, but they have a chance this week to go against another woeful defense. While the Bengals have it rolling on offense, their defense is historically bad in some areas and hasn’t stopped anyone. Riding with the Callahan factor, the Titans’ offense should be in a position to have their best performance of 2024.

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Motivation

Earlier in the season, the Titans took on a Houston Texans team that was coming off a big victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. Motivated to win the game for owner Amy Adams Strunk, they pulled the upset on the road. This week, they take on the Bengals, who are coming off a huge win over the Cowboys on Monday Night Football and the Titans will be motivated to win one for head coach Brian Callahan. Coincidence? Possibly, but motivation is a huge factor and the Titans should have that.

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Has Titans coach Brian Callahan done enough to warrant a second season?

Has Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan shown enough to warrant bringing him back in 2025 or is it time for another reset?

The Tennessee Titans went 6-11 in 2023 and head coach Mike Vrabel was fired. It was the second losing season in a row for the team and Amy Adams Strunk felt it was time for a change.

The team quickly zeroed in on Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to be the next head coach. Fans were, mostly, excited about the change and optimistic about the future.

However, through the first 13 games of Callahan’s tenure, it’s safe to say that any optimism is completely dead. The Titans are 3-10 and would have to win out from here to tie Vrabel’s worst record.

It’s not just the team’s record that’s pitiful, but the way the team has looked for much of the season. Callahan is an offensive-minded coach who was supposed to take this Titans’ unit to a new level.

Instead, the Titans’ offense is even worse or just as bad as it was under Vrabel. So, this leads me to an important question.

What is Brian Callahan good at?

As an ex-offensive coordinator, you’d think Callahan at least improved the offense. Even if he didn’t get the wins in his first season, many would expect the offense to at least look slightly better.

Instead, the Titans are 30th in points per game, 18th in rushing yards per game, 29th in passing yards per game, and 29th in total yards per game. For reference, in 2023, the team was 27th in points, 18th in rushing, 29th in passing, and 28th in yards.

So, the Titans under Callahan either got worse or stayed the same on offense. That’s inexcusable, especially from an offensive-minded coach.

The offensive line still can’t block, receivers still can’t get open, quarterback play is still poor, and there’s still no explosiveness. Either Callahan isn’t a genius offensive mind or the Titans have the worst roster in NFL history.

If he’s not elevating the offense, surely his game management and decision making is good, right? Wrong again.

The Titans under Callahan are completely undisciplined with only the Baltimore Ravens averaging more penalties per game.

Look at the recent loss to the Jaguars for an example of Callahan’s horrendous game management. The Titans were at the Jacksonville two-yard line and proceeded to throw the ball three times in a row during the second quarter.

This led to a turnover on downs and the Titans getting zero points. In a game where the Titans lost 10-6, it would’ve been nice to pound it in the end zone there.

This is just one example of coaching costing this team wins. Another example is the constant defense of special teams coach Colt Anderson.

Anderson has been horrendous in his first season coaching special teams. The Titans are by far dead-last in punt return yards allowed and are 13th in kickoff return yards allowed.

So, horrendous offensive line play, bad in-game decision-making, undisciplined play, and terrible special teams performances have plagued the Titans under Callahan.

What part of the team is better under Callahan than it was under Vrabel? I’m not saying firing Vrabel was the wrong move, but that doesn’t mean Callahan is the right guy for the job either.

With his debut season not yet over, I already feel comfortable saying that Callahan should not get a second year in Nashville.

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Is Titans head coach Brian Callahan coaching for his job?

Is Brian Callahan coaching for his job?

The Tennessee Titans are a bad football team and appear to be regressing as the season moves on. After an extremely disappointing loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it appears that the weight of the dysfunction is getting to head coach Brian Callahan. 

Callahan said he didn’t feel like he was coaching for his job, but one does have to ask considering the amount of disappointment surrounding this team. 

Between the ineptitude of the special teams unit led by Colt Anderson, the failure of the offense to develop under Nick Holz and Callahan’s failed play-calling, an offensive line that cannot compete on a weekly basis and overall decision making, Callahan’s job security, or at least his staff’s job security, should be questioned. 

Week 14 was a prime example of failed leadership guiding the team. After quarterback Will Levis aggravated his shoulder injury at the end of the first half, Callahan stuck with him even though it was clear to everyone watching that Levis lacked zip on his throws and was shaky in the pocket. The Titans should have turned to Mason Rudolph like they did earlier in the season when Levis was originally injured. 

Sticking with Levis was admirable, but the coach not only has to look out for the team and try to win, but they have to look out for the player. Everyone knows Levi is tough and will lay everything on the line to make a play. While that is a good trait, it is up to the coach to protect a player from themself. 

Callahan not only failed Levis on Sunday, he again failed the Titans. While there is no guarantee that Tennessee would have beaten the Jags behind Rudolph, they would have likely had a better chance, just as they did against the Miami Dolphins under these same conditions. 

No one knows for sure whether Callahan is on the hot seat or not. But every week that goes by it becomes clearer that major changes to the staffing need to be made. Right now, those changes should include Callahan. 

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Titans’ Brian Callahan offers injury updates on Will Levis, Harold Landry

The Tennessee Titans have been hit by the injury bug, but head coach Brian Callahan is optimistic they will have Will Levis and Harold Landry.

The Tennessee Titans are disappointed with the outcome of their 10-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, focused on Week 15, there is hope that they will see some significant players return from injury. 

The Titans are a banged-up football team. Against the Jaguars, three starters on defense were held out due to injury, and more starters, quarterback Will Levis and edge Harold Landry missed some snaps due to injury. 


Head coach Brian Callahan is optimistic that neither Levis nor Landry will miss time and the team could see cornerback Roger McCreary return. 

Landry injured his knee during the second half, but did return to action. However, it will be something to keep an eye on moving forward. 


Levis was slammed to the turf and aggravated the sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. In fact, he acknowledged that the hit made the injury worse and he required a shot to continue. It was clear that Levis was playing through pain and lost velocity on his throws. 

The Titans will return to practice on Wednesday and all eyes will be on Landry and Levis to see their activity level. Both players are gamers and likely won’t miss time, but they may see some reduced reps this week.

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Titans vs. Jaguars: 3 causes for concern in Week 14

The Tennessee Titans host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday in Week 14 action, and there are three causes for concern ahead of the game.

The Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars face off in an AFC South divisional matchup this Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CST in Nashville, Tennessee. It marks the first of two meetings between the teams as the 2024 season winds down.

The Jaguars are having a tough season with a 2-10 record and last week may have lost their quarterback, Trevor Lawrence,  for the remainder of the season.

Even if he gets through concussion protocol, the Jags may decide to keep Lawrence off the field to prevent further injury. Given how their season is going, it’s not a bad choice. Mac Jones is a decent backup.

The Titans had high hopes at the beginning of the season, but by the time they entered the bye in Week 5, everyone was ready to count them out. Then Will Levis returned and looked like a different player on the field, and that hasn’t gone away. His play has reignited some hope in this team, despite the continued losses.

As we head into this Week 14 divisional matchup, let’s consider three causes for concern for the Titans.

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Recent questionable game strategy

Last week against the Commanders, Brian Callahan’s game strategy was an epic fail. When you’re facing a team with obvious weaknesses in defending the run, it would make sense to get your running back the ball rather than attack the strong-willed secondary.

But Callahan didn’t do that.

The Titans ran the ball 11 times and handed it to Tony Pollard only eight times. If Callahan thought he could outsmart the Commanders’ secondary, he was sorely mistaken. It was a huge gaffe and something that cannot happen again. Don’t try to outsmart your opponent’s strengths unless they give you a window. Attack their weaknesses.

This week, against the Jaguars, the strategy is going to be different. The Jags are a different team than the Commanders and their defense ranks at the bottom of the league in nearly every metric.

As long as the Titans don’t turn the ball over, it shouldn’t be tough to win. However, that is completely dependent on the game strategy and if any adjustments are made during the game.

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Titans’ defensive woes

The Titans’ defense has been solid for most of the season and still ranks as the top pass defense in the league. Last week, though, their run defense took a hit as the Commanders recorded 267 yards on the ground. It was an unexpected blow.

The secondary received its own blow on Tuesday, too, when the NFL announced it was suspending safety Julius Wood for six games without pay for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He wasn’t hugely impactful, but it leaves the Titans down a man.

As it stands, the Titans defense is tired. The bye week came early this year, their whole unit is riddled with injuries leaving a limited number of players available each week, and they spent a lot of time on the field last week.

The Titans’ defense isn’t usually a concern, but their effectiveness is dwindling, and the Titans can’t win games that way, no matter who their opponent is.

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Special teams

There’s no real context here; everything about the special teams unit is a concern. Blocking. Tackling. Ball security.

Two things are not a concern: Nick Folks’ ability to make a field goal and land kickoffs in touchback territory, and Ryan Stonehouse’s ability to punt the ball inside the five-yard line.

Everything else is a huge mess, it’s chaos on the plays, Jha’Quan Jackson is fumbling the ball leading the Titans to make more use of Julius Chestnut.

It sounds like a broken record, but special teams can literally make or break a team. Right now, special teams is breaking the Titans. Field position matters. Stopping an opponent’s return matters. Making sure the Titans’ guys can return past the 30-yard line matters. If special teams continue to look like it has, it doesn’t matter who they play, they will struggle.

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