NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It just wasn't working.
The Titans fired Brian Callahan Monday afternoon after their fifth loss of the season and another anemic showing on offense that produced 10 points, after which a struggling Cam Ward said, "We're not an efficient offense."
Word is the personnel department is huddling and there is no news yet on who the interim coach will be or or what will happen with Callahan's dad, Bill Callahan, the offensive line coach. They cancelled their scheduled 2:30 p.m. CT press conference scheduled for Callahan's day-after session and said more details are to come.
In their lone win on Oct. 6 in Arizona, up tempo really worked for the Titans, even if it was against a defense that was working to hold onto a lead. Callahan and the team talked about picking up on that and then did very little of it in their 20-10 loss in Las Vegas on Sunday.
Those sorts of developments stacked in his second year and made it difficult to see the team getting better.
I know one high-ranking team official didn't think straying from the team's pledge to be patient was generally the right route for the franchise. Amy Adams Strunk had to either prompt the switch or sign off on it. I think it's likely she keyed it.
Callahan finishes with a 4-19 record. He was hired from his post as a non-play calling offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals and appeared to be one of the next guys in line among the bright young offensive minds emerging around the league.
The Titans thought he would come in an either mold Will Levis into a successful quarterback or have success with the next guy, who turned out to be Ward.
But Ward is a mess six games into his first season after the team selected him with the No. 1 pick overall out of Miami, with a completion percentage of .550, three touchdowns, four interceptions, 25 sacks and a passer rating if 67.3.
It's not immediately clear if Bill Callahan will remain as the offensive coordinator or whole the interim head coach will be. John Fassel (special teams coordinator), Dennard Wilson (defensive coordinator) and Mike McCoy (senior offensive assistant) compose the pool of likely candidates.
