The Tennessee Titans don’t view themselves as a team in rebuild mode, but instead a squad that could be a sneaky playoff threat in the newly-competitive AFC South.
While there was a ton of turnover this offseason — most notably the team moving on from Mike Vrabel as head coach — the Titans believe they have a roster that can compete with the top teams in the NFL,
Vrabel was a defensive-minded head coach and the Titans finished middle-of-the-pack last season with the No. 17 defense in the NFL. But this is a squad that reached the playoffs three-straight seasons from 2019-2021 and while much of the roster has changed, there’s a belief that new head coach Brian Callahan will bring an instant spark to an offense that struggled under Vrabel, while getting the most out of second-year QB Will Levis.
The Tennessee Titans hired Callahan after he spent the last five seasons (2019-23) as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.
During his time in Cincinnati, Callahan served under head coach Zac Taylor and was part of two AFC North titles, two AFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl berth. He also helped guide quarterback Joe Burrow from the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020 to multiple single-season franchise records by his second year and Pro Bowl honors within three years.
“Brian has a track record of success and a range of experience that has prepared him for this opportunity,” said Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk at the time of the hire. “His football knowledge and his enthusiasm for the game really stand out, and beyond that, we think his ability to lead will make him the ideal fit for our franchise.
“If you look at his history, Brian has been a part of a Super Bowl winning team (Denver, 2015) and two other teams that advanced to the Super Bowl (Denver, 2013; Cincinnati, 2021). He’s worked in a variety of dynamic offenses with top-flight quarterbacks. At each step of his career, he’s shown the flexibility and intelligence to make an impact.
“During his time with the Bengals, he was trusted with a number of responsibilities—offensive design, quarterback development, a contributor to the free agency and draft processes—and showed the ability to be a resource in all of those areas. As we seek sustained success and pursue a championship, Brian has seen firsthand what that looks like, and he is the right person to lead us there.”
In the three seasons prior (2021-23) to Callahan joining the Tennessee Titans, the Bengals offense ranked in the NFL’s top 10 in several categories: sixth in scoring (24.9), seventh in passing (250.8 yards per game), seventh in red-zone efficiency (61.5 percent), 10th in third-down percentage (41.0) and sixth in time of possession (31:00).
Levis flashed potential at the end of last season — and it’s clear the organization is attempting to set him up for success in year two — as the Titans signed wide receivers Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley in free agency, and they have 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks along with their No. 1 WR, DeAndre Hopkins.
Tennessee Titans Star WR Deandre Hopkins Expected To Miss Significant Time
The Titans will reportedly not have DeAndre Hopkins for several weeks after the wide receiver reportedly suffered an injury at training camp practice this week.
According to Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky, Hopkins is dealing with a strained knee that could keep him sidelined anywhere from four to six weeks. The Titans’ regular-season opener is a little over five weeks away.
Hopkins is entering his second season with the Tennessee Titans after playing a pivotal role in the offense as quarterback Will Levis’ No. 1 (and really only reliable) option during the 2023 campaign. The veteran wideout finished with 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns in his first season in Nashville.
The 32-year-old is in the final year of his contract, leaving his future with the organization unknown as there haven’t been talks about a contract extension as of yet. But if the Titans are going to make a run in the AFC South and challenge the Texans, Colts and Jaguars, Hopkins will be vital for Callahan’s new offense.
