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Why Callahan was the right choice to succeed Vrabel as Titans HC

Cincinnati Bengals former offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. Kareem Elgazzar via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Why Brian Callahan was the right choice to succeed Mike Vrabel as Titans HC

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 1/23/24

Two weeks after firing head coach Mike Vrabel, the Tennessee Titans have found his successor.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Titans are set to hire Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as the sixth head coach in franchise history (they had 16 previous head coaches during the Houston Oilers era.)

Callahan was a hot commodity during this year’s coaching cycle, having interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers in addition to the Titans. His hire was the right call for controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk for a few reasons, but primarily because his offensive prowess will pay dividends for 24-year-old quarterback Will Levis heading into his second season.

“He’s as ready for this as anyone can be,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told Albert Breer of SI.com. “He’s made an enormous impact on our team, and I’ve learned a ton from him because of the experience he brought to our team from other places he’s been and the success he’s had over his career. Whoever hires him won’t regret it, and we will have big shoes to fill.”

From @NFLTotalAccess: The #Titans are hiring former #Bengals OC Brian Callahan for the entire package, not only his work with Joe Burrow. pic.twitter.com/3UBi6j7l9A
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 23, 2024

In his five seasons as Bengals OC, Callahan was credited for helping Joe Burrow develop into one of the top young passers in the NFL.

He also did commendable work in his early days as a quarterbacks coach, working with both Matthew Stafford, who threw for 4,300 yards with 24 or more touchdowns in back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017, and Derek Carr, who threw for 4,000 yards for the first time in 2018 under Callahan’s guidance.

Callahan’s presence also increases the likelihood that his father Bill, the offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns, follows him to Tennessee, and he also gives the Titans a leg up on signing free-agent-to-be Tee Higgins — a potential game-changing receiver they can pair with DeAndre Hopkins and allow 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks to develop with less pressure on his shoulders.

Bill Callahan has been Cleveland’s O-line coach since 2020. During that span, the Browns have had a top-10 rushing offense for three of four years and allowed 164 sacks.

The offensive line is the biggest area of concern for the Titans heading into the offseason. The team allowed the fourth-most sacks (64) and fifth-most sack yardage (445) this season. The Browns ranked 12th in sacks allowed (45) in 2023, though they were without starting left tackle Jedrick Wills for nine games and starting right tackle Jack Conklin for 16 games after suffering a season-ending knee injury in the opener.

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