The Titans have hired Mike Vrabel's replacement, making former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan the sixth head coach in Titans franchise history.
In five seasons as the Bengals' offensive coordinator, Callahan helped establish an offense that fueled Cincinnati to two AFC North division championships and a Super Bowl appearance in 2021.
The Bengals offense was seventh in the NFL in points per game (26.1), eighth in total yards (360.5 per game), and fifth in passing yards (265.0). The Bengals also finished fourth in the NFL in offensive DVOA in 2022.
Highly regarded for helping quarterback Joe Burrow become one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, NFL.com points out that Callahan also had a hand in getting stellar play out of Jake Browning this past season after Burrow was lost to a wrist injury.
That history of getting the most out of the quarterback position isn't new.
ESPN's Turron Davenport notes that Callahan broke into the NFL as an offensive assistant for the Denver Broncos in 2010. He served in various roles, including coaching assistant, offensive quality control coach, and offensive assistant through 2015, when Peyton Manning quarterbacked the Broncos to a Super Bowl-winning season.
He also served as the Lions' quarterbacks coach during the 2016 and 2017 seasons, working alongside then-Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford, who posted 4,000-plus passing yards each year.
The following season saw Callahan in the same role with the Oakland Raiders in 2018, where he helped quarterback Derek Carr reach 4,000 passing yards for the first time in his career.
Now, Callahan will work with second-year quarterback Will Levis.
But Bengals coach Zac Taylor stressed the outgoing coordinator's impact wasn't limited to the quarterback position.
"He establishes the whole structure of the offense," Taylor said of Callahan. "He has helped develop every position we have. He's invaluable. There's really not enough things I can say about him."
Fantasy Impact in Tennessee
The Titans offense ranked 27th or worse in points scored and yards in each of the last two seasons. As part of the overall effort to improve those numbers, Callahan will be tasked with developing QB Will Levis, a second-round selection who showed promise at the tail end of Tennessee's 6-11 2023 campaign. The new coach will do that as a first-time play-caller. General manager Ran Carthon must upgrade the offensive line and receiving corps to help Callahan maximize Levis' potential.
Look for at least one other notable change to this offense. With Derrick Henry expected to move on via free agency. Tyjae Spears is currently the next man up at the position.
Fantasy Impact in Cincinnati
In terms of replacing Callahan, the Bengals have an in-house candidate in quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher. However, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Cincy will have competition, as Pitcher is scheduled for coordinator interviews with the Patriots, Raiders, and Saints. Still, Taylor is the man behind this offense, and his ongoing presence and role as play-caller ensure continuity for the players we're most interested in -- Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Joe Mixon, and Tee Higgins, who could draw the franchise tag as an unrestricted free agent.
Other Impact
Brian's father, former Raiders head coach Bill Callahan, has been the offensive line coach in Cleveland. He is expected to join his son in Tennessee. That will be a loss for one of the Browns' most important position groups and a massive gain for Tennessee.
Video Reaction from Footballguys
Our Jagger May has additional thoughts on how this hire impacts Levis, Chase, and your Dynasty trade possibilities on our YouTube channel.
