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.
Brian Callahan wouldn’t say he’s “coaching for his job.”
But he talks here about the impatient culture of the NFL regarding head coaches & how he maintains his confidence without letting the poor results rattle him. #Titans pic.twitter.com/oDBrgr02HV
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) December 9, 2024
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.