It isn't every year that a head coach gets to keep their job after the team ends up with a top-three draft pick. But, that's where the Tennessee Titans may be headed at the moment.
Following their Week 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Titans sit at 3-13 and currently hold the no. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. First-year head coach Brian Callahan has seen his team go through a trying season, and despite the losses, he should end up keeping his job.
At least, that's what NFL insider Ian Rapoport believes will happen. In a recent column, Rapoport chimed in on some of the hotter coaching topics, including the Titans:
"Internally, there is a feeling Callahan has shown long-term promise and the team has improved; the expectation next season is that that'll be reflected more on the field and the scoreboard."
Now, while Callahan should stick around, Rapoport did indicate that the staff could be changed up a bit:
"The Titans have other issues, too, including fixing a special teams unit that was a major liability early in the season. Some staff changes are possible."
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Those last five words are key. Callahan likely stays, but the rest of his staff? There could be some changes coming.
Colt Anderson is in his first season as the Titans' special teams coordinator, but as fans know well, that unit hasn't exactly been a bright spot this year. Anderson very well could be a one-and-done scenario in Tennessee.
Brian Callahan has done enough to stick around with the Titans after one season
Say what you may about Callahan's first year in Tennessee, but it has been challenging, to say the least. The quarterback position has been far from solidified, making it difficult on a first-year head coach.
Callahan didn't pick Will Levis. He didn't get a say in the matter, because he wasn't around when the Titans drafted him. Now, the Titans will be looking at a serious opportunity to land a potential franchise quarterback in the 2025 draft.
He may have been hard on Levis, publicly in fact, but Callahan stayed true to himself. He gave Levis every opportunity to succeed this season, and when he finally had to make a change, Callahan did so, opting for Mason Rudolph to finish the season.
Now, Rudolph isn't the long-term answer of course. But, Callahan had to make a change in order to prove he wasn't beyond making tough decisions. He certainly doesn't deserve to be let go after just one season.
Fans should be hopeful for next year on the heels of a strong defense and, hopefully, a new franchise passer entering in just a short four months' time.