Pro Football Talk recently published an article outlining five NFL head coaches on the hot seat. Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan was not on that list. Site lead Mike Florio thought that was so egregious that he published a follow-up article to course-correct and claim Callahan is firmly on the hot seat entering 2025.
Mike Florio says Titans HC Brian Callahan is on the hot seat
Is the Tennessee Titans head coach on the hot seat?
“In Tennessee, Chad Brinker became after 2024 the latest winner of the in-house power struggle,” Florio wrote. “He’s running the show, with Mike Borgonzi now the G.M. The latest iteration of mismatched front office/coach could result in Brinker/Borgonzi wanting their own head coach after the coming season.”
Callahan went 3-14 in his debut season with the Titans, undeniably leading to questions about his future. With Brinker securing more power within the organization following Ran Carthon’s departure, paired with a GM (Borgonzi) who didn’t hire Callahan, and it’s fair to ask questions.
“Dysfunctional teams do dysfunctional things, and the recent run of dysfunction in Tennessee is reason enough to wonder whether Callahan will be feeling the heat, unless he at least doubles his first-year win total in his second NFL campaign,” Florio added.
The dysfunction Florio is referring to is team owner Amy Adams Strunk’s decision to fire a GM or head coach in three consecutive seasons. Jon Robinson, Mike Vrabel, and Carthon were all fired in rather quick succession. Callahan would make it four straight.
Perhaps that works in Callahan’s favor. Indications are that Adams Strunk wants to shed this reputation. The only way she can successfully achieve that is by displaying patience with Callahan.
Callahan has to earn that right, however. The baseline expectations for Callahan are low. He needs to prove capable of developing No. 1 overall quarterback Cam Ward. He was initially hired (in part) for his resume with high-level NFL quarterbacks. Ward needs to develop under his tutelage.
If the Titans win six games in 2025 and Ward enjoys a quality season by rookie QB standards, Callahan should be safe. That would mean the Titans doubled their 2024 win total with a rookie quarterback who appears to be the long-term solution. Those are reasonable asks of Callahan.
Five-or-less wins and a subpar rookie season by Ward could bring Callahan’s job security into legitimate question, however.
