Tennessee Titans hire ex-Bengals OC Brian Callahan as next head coach

Tennessee Titans logo^ NFL Team^ based in Nashville^ TN

The Tennessee Titans announced on Wednesday that they have officially hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their head coach, replacing Mike Vrabe. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a news release: “This is an exciting time for our franchise, and we’re thrilled to have Brian as our head coach. We went through a thorough candidate search and Brian stood out as the best person to lead our football team. I want to thank the other candidates who were part of this process and wish them well moving forward.”  

Strunk added: “Brian has a track record of success and a range of experience that has prepared him for this opportunity. 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. If you look at his history, Brian has been a part of a Super Bowl winning team and another team that advanced to the Super Bowl. He’s worked in a variety of dynamic offenses with top-flight quarterbacks. At each step of his career, he’s shown the flexibility and intelligence to make an impact.”

The Titans fired Vrabel on Jan. 9, who was wit the organization for six seasons. Under Vrabel, the Titans went 54-45 in the regular season and 2-3 in the postseason.The Titans went 6-11 in 2023, their worst record under Vrabel. They had the fifth-worst offense in the NFL, including the fourth-worst passing game. They also scored the sixth-fewest points.

Callahan, 39, served as quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders in 2018. He held the same role in 2016 and 2017 with the Detroit Lions. Callahan was a member of the Denver Broncos coaching staff from 2010 through 2015, serving as a coaching and offensive assistant and in offensive quality control.

Callahan spent the last five seasons as Bengals offensive coordinator, and during that span they ranked No. 8 in 2022 and No. 13 in 2021. The Bengals passing offense ranked No. 5 in 2022 and No. 7 in 2021.

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