The Tennessee Titans are getting closer to finalizing the shortlist for their upcoming head coaching search. The Titans named Mike McCoy as interim coach after firing Brian Callahan in October. McCoy will coach the final three games of the 2025 season before Mike Borgonzi and Chad Brinker start looking for a permanent replacement.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic has sporadically provided updates on the Titans' search. With January being a crucial month in the decision-making process, Russini provided a new update before the Titans play the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 16 on Sunday.
Russini names Matt Nagy as a "serious candidate" internally. She also mentions Lou Anarumo, Chris Shula, Matt Burke, Anthony Campanile, Jeff Hafley, and Jesse Minter. Let's examine the following options, most of whom will disappoint Titans fans.
Dianna Russini's Titans head coaching update feels woefully underwhelming
Matt Nagy, Chiefs OC
Nagy is named as the front-runner candidate internally. It's not exactly unexpected. The Chiefs' offensive coordinator possesses strong ties to Borgonzi, spending eight years (2013-17, 2022-2024) together in Kansas City.
Nagy and the Chiefs will play the Titans in Nashville on Sunday. Borgonzi will be present. The two sides are forbidden from holding job discussions, but it wouldn't be stunning if Borgonzi and Nagy did some on-field catching up prior to kickoff. The 6-8 Chiefs have been eliminated from postseason contention and several Andy Reid assistants could consider jumping ship this offseason.
Lou Anarumo, Colts DC
Lou Anarumo is perhaps the candidate who will puzzle Titans fans the most. The 59-year-old defensive coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts has never been a head coach. It feels slightly late in Anarumo's career for head coaching buzz to start taking shape, though he's also been mentioned for the New York Giants' vacancy.
The Cincinnati Bengals scapegoated Anarumo for their terrible defense last season. They haven't improved under his replacement Al Golden, meanwhile Anarumo went to Indianapolis and has coordinated a stellar Colts defense. Who Anarumo's offensive coordinator would be is going to be crucial to any job discussions.
Matt Burke, Texans DC
Houston Texans defensive coordinator Matt Burke may be the most unknown name floated. Burke actually began his NFL coaching career with the Titans. He was an administrative assistant in 2004-05, and then a defensive quality control coach from 2006-08.
Burke was the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator in 2017-18, and currently serves in the same role under DeMeco Ryans in Houston. Perhaps the most interesting job on Burke's resume is his stint as a game management coach for the New York Jets in 2021. Coach Callahan routinely made in-game mistakes, and the Titans' next coach must do a better job handling the in-game elements.
Chris Shula, Rams DC
Chris Shula may double as the most exciting and dangerous candidate on Russini's list. The 39-year-old rising leader from the legendary Shula family has never been a head coach. He's in his second campaign as Sean McVay's defensive coordinator in L.A.
McVay's coaching tree has produced a number of head coaches to mixed results. Shula has been coaching under McVay with the Rams since 2017, consistently climbing the ladder before being named DC in 2024. Shula's Rams are legitimate Super Bowl candidates.
Anthony Campanile, Jaguars DC
Anthony Campanile completes the trifecta. All three of the Titans' AFC South rivals have their defensive coordinators mentioned in Russini's shortlist. Campanile has done an excellent job with the Jacksonville Jaguars this season.
The 43-year-old Campanile previously coached at prestigious programs such as Don Bosco (prep High School) and Rutgers. He's also coached at Michigan, Miami (Dolphins), and Green Bay. The most interesting footnote on Campanile's resume is that he's coached on both offense and defense.
Jeff Hafley, Packers DC
If Russini's shortlist proves accurate, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is among the better names mentioned. Hafley would check several of the Titans' supposed boxes. He has previous head coaching experience, having led Boston College for four seasons (2020-23).
Hafley has been coordinating the Packers defense under Matt LaFleur since last season. With LaFleur being an offensive-minded coach, Hafley possesses sole control of the defense. The 46-year-old New Jersey native is expected to be a strong candidate.
Jesse Minter, Chargers DC
Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is expected to be a popular league-wide candidate. Minter is currently coordinating the defense for Jim Harbaugh's playoff-bound team. He's been mentioned in the Titans' search before.
Minter coached in-state with Vanderbilt in 2021. He also won a National Championship with Harbaugh at Michigan in 2023. If the Titans don't hire Minter this offseason, it wouldn't be surprising if someone else did.