NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Titans still intend to be a patient organization as they build, but they fired Brian Callahan because they made so little progress during his 23 games as their coach.
“We are looking for growth in this football team and that’s what this is about right now,” Brinker said. “We’re not seeing enough growth from this football team. We’re 1-5, and we’ve got to be better than this. We’re all frustrated. We understand that you, the fan, you’re frustrated with everything that is going on.
“We’re doing everything we can, we will do everything we can to build a football program that you can be proud of.”
Interim coach Mike McCoy has four years as head coach of the Chargers on his resume, during which he worked with Philip Rivers. The hope is that he can help get Cam Ward on a better track.
But he was hand-picked by Callahan, who worked under him early in his career, and will guide the same staff and the same weak roster of players that Callahan did.
Borgonzi emphasized McCoy’s experience. But Bill Callahan, who left the Titans as his son was fired, brought a ton of experience to the Titans in 2024 -- and he came in as an excellent offensive line coach, with a reputation superior to McCoy’s in every way.
The senior Callahan's work in Nashville didn’t measure up at all to what he had done previously. Counting on McCoy’s experience as a big booster seems suspect, not that the Titans had a lot of directions to go.
Why will Callahan’s mentor, who also had a poor record, have more success than his protége.
“I know he was with Brian before, and they have a past, but sometimes you need to change,” Borgonzi said. “I think Mike will do some things differently, and we’re confident in Mike. I’ve been around Mike now for a few months, I’ve gotten to know him a little bit better.
“Experience is not everything. Everybody has different ways of doing things, even though they were in the same place at one time. They have different coaching styles, different ways, so I think change sometimes is good for everybody.”
Amy Adams Stunk was a no-show. It’s been so long since she answered for her decisions that Brinker, who arrived here in 2023, was somewhat taken aback when I asked him about her whereabouts. Her chosen hiding place this time was “at her home,” Brinker said.
She’s now fired two GMs and two coaches in the span of four years, leaving her employees to squirm while they answered for her hiring and firing, and for making what should be an attractive job one that is much less so, considering the job security questions that are now attached.
Brinker said the franchise would put all its resources into McCoy and that he would get every opportunity to prove himself. But given every available coach in the world come January, no matter how well McCoy does, it would be crazy to stay in-house.
Borgonzi should be given the most power in hiring the next coach, and he and that coach should carry this team into the future with Ward. Strunk should move herself as far as possible away from the process, acknowledging her failures with Callahan and Carthon.
She had no problem staying away from a tough spot like Tuesday evening’s press conference. She has not spoken publicly since Carthon’s hiring in January of 2023.
If they best want to serve the franchise, her confidants Kenneth Adams, Bryce Wasserman and Brinker should urge her to stay away from the hiring process. Meet Borgonzi’s choice at the end, shake hands, say congrats and good luck and retreat again.
“This job will be attractive,” Brinker said. “I have no doubt about that.”
Well, for a guy interested in short work and long pay, sure. For one concerned about dysfunction with a choice between here and virtually anywhere else, I used to believe it. I don’t anymore.
As for the hire of Callahan in January of 2024, Brinker said part of the evaluations the Titans do is of themselves.
“Our process was right,” he said. “I don’t think the process was wrong or that there was something wrong with that part of it. We believed in Brian and wanted to give him that opportunity. Unfortunately, it just didn’t work out.”
I didn’t have an issue with it. I thought he’d be good.
It’s the Titans’ way that he wasn't. They've got to get through this season, get Ward playing better and get themselves a quality coach.
