It began with a three straight losses, and ended with a six-game slide. For the second consecutive year, the Tennessee Titans were bottom feeders in the AFC South, this time with a 3-14 resume. That 7-3 start in 2022 is indeed a distant memory as the franchise owns a 9-32 dismal record in its last 41 outings—including a 2-13 record in their last 15 games vs. division rivals.
It was a rough debut for first-time NFL head coach Brian Callahan, and the team has already made one significant change when it comes to 2025.
Much more was expected from the Titans in 2024
The team dismissed executive vice president/general manager Ran Carthon earlier this month after two years with the organization. He and the Titans were aggressive this offseason moves in terms of free agent additions such as wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, running back Tony Pollard, and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. Carthon also swung a deal to obtain cornerback L’Jarius Sneed from the Chiefs. The class of veteran newcomers drew mixed reviews.
The defense was arguably the strong point of the team. In fact, only the NFC East champion Philadelphia Eagles allowed fewer total yards and fewer passing yards. However, Dennard Wilson’s unit wore down as the season unfolded. The club struggled against the run down the stretch, and wound up finishing 26th in the league in rushing yards allowed.
Of course, the real culprit was an offense that gained the seventh fewest total yards per game in the NFL. The Titans were also 27th in points scored (311), which was almost identical to their 2023 total (305). Callahan and coordinator Nick Holz’s offensive unit produced only 33 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Tennessee’s 34 turnovers tied for the high mark in the league with the Cleveland Browns. The last time the club led the NFL in this dubious category was 2015, when the team finished 3-13.
As for those miscues, the quarterback combination of Will Levis (18) and Mason Rudolph (10) were responsible for 28 of the 34 turnovers. Meanwhile, Wilson’s defense gave up 48 trips to the end zone, and the offense (5) and special teams (2) gave up a combined seven touchdowns. Hence the Titans permitted 460 points, almost 100 more (367) in 2023.
All told, the 14 losses are the most since 2014, during Ken Whisenhunt’s first season as head coach.
Looking ahead
The team is on the clock. The last time the Titans owned the first overall pick in the draft was actually 2016. The club and the Cleveland Browns both finished 3-13 the previous year, and Tennessee got the nod because it played an “easier” schedule in 2015 and still finished with the identical record. Of course, the franchise dealt that pick to the Rams that year.
The last time the franchise actually used the first overall selection in the draft was back in 1978, when the organization made the wise move and chose running back Earl Campbell, who went onto a Hall of Fame career. That’s a good memory, which can’t be said for this latest edition of the Titans.