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.