Titans Fire Head Coach Brian Callahan Amidst Disappointin...

NASHVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Titans have officially parted ways with head coach Brian Callahan, effective Monday, October 13, 2025. The decision comes just six games into his second season, following a dismal 1-5 start to the 2025 NFL campaign. Callahan concludes his tenure with an overall record of 4-19, marking him as the first NFL head coach fired this season.

Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker announced the change, stating that the team had not demonstrated "sufficient growth." The decision was made after "extended conversations" involving Brinker, General Manager Mike Borgonzi, and Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk.

Callahan, who was hired on January 22, 2024, as the 20th head coach in franchise history, was brought in with expectations to revitalize the offense and develop young quarterback talent. His first season saw the Titans finish with a 3-14 record, which earned them the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The team drafted quarterback Cam Ward with that top pick, hoping for a turnaround in 2025. However, the offensive struggles continued, leading Callahan to relinquish play-calling duties in Week 4 of the current season.

Senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy has been named the interim head coach for the remainder of the 2025 season. McCoy, a former head coach for the San Diego Chargers, joined the Titans earlier this year and will now lead the team as they seek stability.

The firing underscores the franchise's ongoing struggles and its commitment to finding a path to sustained success. The Titans will now begin a search for their next permanent head coach, aiming to improve performance and develop their promising young roster.

This marks another significant change in the Titans' leadership, with the team having seen multiple general managers and now a head coach change in a relatively short period. The organization faces critical decisions in shaping its future direction.

The Tennessee Titans hired Brian Callahan on January 22, 2024, following his successful stint as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019 to 2023. He was tasked with transforming an offense that had consistently ranked among the league's worst. Callahan's background included working with prominent quarterbacks like Peyton Manning and Joe Burrow, which fueled optimism for his ability to develop the Titans' young signal-callers.
Callahan's first season in 2024 concluded with a disappointing 3-14 record, mirroring the team's 1-5 start in 2025. This consistent lack of early-season success, coupled with an overall 4-19 record, ultimately led to his dismissal. The team's offensive output remained low, scoring only 83 points and averaging 3.94 yards per play through the initial six games of the 2025 season.
The decision to fire Callahan was a collective one, involving Controlling Owner Amy Adams Strunk, President of Football Operations Chad Brinker, and General Manager Mike Borgonzi. Brinker emphasized the team's desire for "growth" that was not being met. This indicates a clear directive from ownership to hold leadership accountable for on-field performance and development.
Mike Borgonzi was appointed as the Titans' General Manager on January 17, 2025, succeeding Ran Carthon, who was fired on January 7, 2025. Borgonzi brought a championship pedigree from his 16 years with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he served as Assistant General Manager. His hiring was intended to bring a new strategic vision to the franchise's roster construction and overall football operations.
The Titans utilized their No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to select quarterback Cam Ward, signaling a commitment to a new era under a young passer. Callahan's inability to foster significant progress with Ward and the offense, despite the high draft capital invested, was a critical factor in the team's decision to make a change.
Mike McCoy, who previously served as a senior offensive assistant for the Titans, has been named interim head coach. McCoy has prior head coaching experience with the San Diego Chargers from 2013-2016, where he compiled a 27-37 record. His immediate task will be to stabilize the team and continue the development of quarterback Cam Ward for the remaining 11 games of the season.
Callahan's five-year contract, signed in January 2024 and reportedly worth around $15 million, includes guaranteed money. This means he will continue to receive a significant portion of his salary despite his dismissal, a common practice for NFL coaches. This financial commitment underscores the team's initial belief in his long-term potential.
The firing of Brian Callahan marks a turbulent period for the Titans' leadership, with multiple significant personnel changes in the front office and coaching staff over the past three years. This instability highlights the pressure on the organization to achieve winning results and build a sustainable, competitive football program.