Titans Latest Team To See HC-GM Misalignment Backfire

The regular Titans descent resulting in Brian Callahan‘s ouster was definitely predictable given recent organizational decision-making. Owner Amy Adams Strunk has fostered an unstable environment, and the ability structure left standing still invites questions. The impulsive owner, as is the case with several other dysfunctional organizations, stays the common denominator during this nosedive.

Tennessee went 4-19 under Callahan, the coach Adams Strunk insisted upon when not bothering to explore Mike Vrabel‘s trade value. Linked to such a trade effort late within the 2023 season, the Titans bailed on that plan as a consequence of Adams Strunk not wanting to potentially miss out on a number of the 2024 cycle’s candidates while coping with Vrabel trade negotiations. The result: a 23-game head coach. Callahan matched Ken Whisenhunt‘s tenure for the franchise’s shortest for a full-time HC in 50 years.

Callahan didn’t appear deserving of a 3rd season, and it took one of the crucial bizarre collapses — Week 5 in Arizona — in recent NFL history to provide the Titans their win. The team’s 83-point total represents the fewest points through six Titans/Oilers games since 1983. With Cam Ward development paramount, Tennessee’s power structure pulling the plug is sensible. Though, Ward will debut next season — barring an unexpected decision to retain Mike McCoy and Bo Hardegree — with a 3rd play-caller in 18 games. Not ideal for quarterback growth. Ward has nowhere to go but up, by his own admission, rating dead last in QBR (by a large margin) and EPA per play.

Although eventful as a consequence of the past two Tennessee iterations’ performance, Callahan’s tenure shall be slightly insignificant within the grand scheme. Adams Strunk’s 10-plus-year run as controlling owner has included more notable impulse firings, with that list starting with Vrabel and GMs Jon Robinson and Ran Carthon. How the owner has operated will make hiring the subsequent coach harder, no matter any positive perception the Chad Brinker–Mike Borgonzi power duo generates across the league.