Brian Callahan, you will recover from this. You see, the Tennessee Titans are a desert of dysfunction. No one hired by this organization really knows how deeply that runs until they start drawing a paycheck signed by the Adams family.
But it’s there. And in time, the further away you are from this, your coaching reputation will begin to heal as people around football realize what you went through in going 4-19 as the Titans head coach.
Your next shot might not come as a head coach, but after enough time has passed you will get another chance to be someone’s quarterbacks coach or offensive coordinator. And things could work out just fine.
Don’t believe me?
Just look at some of the past scapegoats. They’re beginning to be seen in a different light now that enough time has passed and the chasm of the Titans’ dysfunction continues to deepen.
Former general manager Jon Robinson, who is generally regarded as the architect of the Titans downfall for trading A.J. Brown and the Titans draft failures from 2020-22, started making the rounds last offseason and even interviewed for a couple of the vacant general manager openings.
While the end part of Robinson’s resume is certainly stained with the likes of Isaiah Wilson, Caleb Farley and many other misses, it also must be remembered that Robinson was the man who lifted the Titans from their previous run of despair, building a moribund team from 2014-15 into a contending roster in just one offseason.
And from 2016-21, the Titans managed to overcome ownership’s chaos long enough to make the playoffs four times in that window, including being in the conference championship game in 2019 and a No. 1 seed in 2021.
Need more proof? Look at Mike Vrabel, who would have been your opponent Sunday had ownership not pulled the plug before you could take the field against your coaching predecessor.
He got sideways with Amy Adams Strunk after going 6-11 in 2023 and picking the wrong time to ask for more power inside the organization. That, and a loss to the Houston Texans while wearing the classic Oilers throwbacks, was enough to have him shown the door.
After a year off in 2024 – collecting checks for not working – Vrabel was quickly snapped up by his former team, the New England Patriots and has them 4-2 and contending for a playoff spot.
He gets to show them off to Titans fans and ownership Sunday at Nissan Stadium. You know he’s going to be the center of attention even with all the controversy swirling about his former club.
And it goes even deeper than that, Brian.
Ran Carthon, the man who hired you, he’s off counting part of Strunk’s money too and enjoying life as a media analyst for CBS Sports. In time, he might get another chance in a front office or stay comfortable in current position for as long as he likes.
And how about your old friend Will Levis?
Before you were hired, Strunk sent out a memo about the coaching search after Vrabel was fired. It clearly stated that “Last year we added a promising young quarterback and several other talented players to our roster. With a coaching search, enviable cap space and top-10 draft position, this offseason is as important as any in our history. I’m excited for the weeks and months ahead. We will meet the moment.”
That “promising young quarterback” was Levis, and a big part of the reason you were hired in the first place.
It didn’t work out so well, as Levis wasn’t really a fit for your system and his penchant for putting the ball in harm’s way while trying to make a play behind a terrible line and throwing to receivers who rarely out ran anyone didn’t play well with the team or fans.
Now, with Levis out for the season after opting for shoulder surgery, there are fans on social media pointing out that his numbers through six games last year are actually better than those put up by No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, who was chosen to replace him.
Heck, with Levis 3,000 miles away rehabbing his shoulder, it’s not far-fetched that somewhere down the line somebody gives him a chance and he turns out like Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones. He has talent, and somebody will probably attempt to harness it in a better situation.
So, even though things look bleak after you washed out with the Titans, don’t fret. Somewhere down the line, someone will recognize that you did all you could do under the circumstances and maybe you deserve a chance to show that.
Terry McCormick also covers the Titans for TitanInsider.com