On The Offensive – What To Expect From Tennessee Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan

Nashville, TN –  There is a new era beginning in Nashville, Tennessee as the Tennessee Titans welcome new head coach Brian Callahan into the fold.

Callahan has been with multiple teams during his journey through the NFL with his most recent stop being the Cincinnati Bengals where he was the offensive coordinator from 2019-2023. Despite not calling plays for the Bengals, he had a major role in game-planning and also had input on Zac Taylor’s play-calls in game.

He also worked very closely with Bengals superstar signal caller Joe Burrow and was credited with being a key component of his development into who he is now.

Callahan’s resume is as good as any coaching candidate’s, but what does his hiring mean for this Titans squad?

First things first, Callahan brings 14 years of NFL experience to the table. He also brings cache and influence that will draw talent to the Titans as they build this franchise for the future.

Callahan’s father, Bill Callahan, is one of the most respected coaches in all of football and is an offensive line specialist. The Titans have struggled with offensive line play the last couple of seasons and adding a coach like Bill Callahan could change that drastically.

Callahan, the father, is currently employed by the Cleveland Browns, who have been one of the best units in football but he could look to join his son’s staff in Nashville. Callahan has been coaching in the NFL for almost 30 years, 19 of which came working as an offensive line coach.

Bill Callahan has coached the likes of Tyron Smith, La’el Collins, Zack Marting, Travis Frederick, Trent Williams and Joe Thomas. This bodes well for the Titans as they will be in the market for talent to bolster their trenches. He would also be pivotal in the development of young talents like Peter Skoronski, Nicholas Petit-Frere and Jaelyn Duncan.

This could also hold the key to how the Titans approach the draft and free agency. Players like Connor Williams, Mike Onwenu, Trent Brown and others could start to see the Titans as a destination with a name like Bill Callahan on staff.

Besides the addition of his father to the coaching staff, Brian Callahan brings his own connections to the Titans that can help shape the roster. One of those is his connection to impending free agent Tee Higgins.

Higgins who is a Tennessee native, who played high at Oak Ridge High School, has played under Callahan since being drafted to the Bengals in 2020. Higgins has been a highly productive receiver during his time in the league and Callahan could look to use his relationship to bring Higgins to the Titans.

He could use that same method to lure players like Jonah Williams, Chidobe Awuzie and Trayveon Williams to Nashville, which all could fill a need on this Tennessee roster.

His offseason moves will ultimately pale in comparison to the development of Will Levis. Charles London has done well with his work with Levis and the young quarterback showed he has what it takes to play in the NFL.

Callahan brings in his experience working with players like Peyton Manning, Rich Gannon and Matthew Stafford to build on an already good foundation. Levis tallied 1,808 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions on 58.4% passing in just nine starts in his rookie season.

Joe Burrow started 10 games in an injury shortened season and had an amazing comeback in his sophomore year. Levis could see an exponential amount of growth under Callahan’s tutelage.

Callahan will be able to help with how the offense may change. The Titans have been a run-run-pass team for a majority of the last decade. Callahan comes from the Sean McVay staff by way of Zac Taylor, so the offensive philosophy will be vastly different.

The Bengals under Callahan have been in the bottom 10 on run calls on first down the last two seasons. That could help the Titans open up the offense and not be as one-dimensional and predictable as they have been over the years.

The Titans have some good weapons in Tyjae Spears, DeAndre Hopkins, Chig Okonkwo and Josh Whyle. They would benefit from a more open offense that utilizes the pass to soften up the defense.

A change in philosophy could also help lure those coveted free agents to Tennessee as well, making general manager Ran Carthon’s job busier this offseason.

The Callahan era has begun. Ran Carthon and his new cohort have an entire offseason to hit the ground running and start the construction of the new look Tennessee Titans.