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The Tennessee Titans organization is no stranger to organizational changes, as demonstrated by the fact that this franchise has fired a head coach or general manager in each of the last three seasons. With the way Brian Callahan is performing two years in, it’s time to start evaluating Titans coaching candidates.
Callahan was always a risky hire by the Titans’ organization. He received ample credit for Jake Browning’s success in the aftermath of the Joe Burrow injury late in the 2023 season, but he’d otherwise had a rather unremarkable coaching career. He’s been unable to maximize any of the Titans’ quarterbacks and, just as concerning, the hiring of Bill Callahan as offensive line coach hasn’t yielded real improvements for Tennessee’s offensive line.
Let’s dive into our preliminary list of Titans coaching candidates to replace Callahan.
When evaluating potential Titans coaching candidates, those with experience getting the most out of a quarterback and building an explosive, efficient offense will be prioritized. That’s why Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady will be one of the most sought-after play-callers in 2026 for NFL teams seeking a bright, young head coach.
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Much of the emphasis on Brady will center on his success with quarterbacks Josh Allen (in Buffalo) and Joe Burrow (at LSU). However, another redeeming quality is his track record of adapting and learning from his mistakes. He was the hotshot in the coaching world after the 2019 season with LSU, turning that success into a job as the Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator (2020-21). He didn’t last two full seasons, as Carolina’s offense ranked 29th in EPA per Play (-0.060) and 24th in Success Rate (43.4 percent) during that stretch.
The 35-year-old worked his way back up the coaching ladder, serving as Allen’s quarterbacks coach (2022-23) before taking over as Buffalo’s offensive play-caller. In the last two seasons, Buffalo ranks second in EPA per Play and is top five in Offensive Success Rate. A big reason for that is Brady helped revitalize Buffalo’s ground game, maximizing running back James Cook in the process. He’s a proven play-caller who knows a good offensive line is just as important to a quarterback’s long-term success as the scheme. He’s ideal for Tennessee.
As great as it would be for Tennessee to find Ward a wizard of a play-caller who could potentially stick around for years to come as a head coach, that’s not the only pathway for sustained success with a franchise quarterback. The Bills (Sean McDermott), Baltimore Ravens (John Harbaugh), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Todd Bowles) and Washington Commanders are demonstrating that right now.
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