The Tennessee Titans will need a new head coach this offseason after the Brian Callahan experiment failed to become what the organization hoped it would. Many names have been floated around as to who could be the next person to run the ship in Nashville but a recent name mentioned by Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano of ESPN in their latest report is someone Titans fans have gotten used to hearing at this point.
That name is Chris Shula, who is the defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. Graziano brought up that Shula is going to be a popular name on the head coaching cycle this offseason and directly mentioned the Titans as a team that could make sense for his services.
Graziano: "The name that jumped to my mind is Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, who I believe will be on a lot of lists. That Sean McVay pixie dust has been the key for a lot of guys getting their first head coaching shot, and Shula could be next. I could see him being of interest in Tennessee if he brings the right offensive coordinator with him for quarterback Cam Ward's development."
Fowler: "Shula has that Rams tree, coaches an opportunistic defense in L.A. and has long been on the league's internal radar as an emerging candidate. That's a good formula."
Chris Shula-Titans buzz intensifies following latest report
Some might think it'd be a better approach for the Titans to look for an offensive-minded guy as their next hire given that they took Cam Ward with the first pick in last year's draft so this could be considered a weird potential hire for those with that mindset. That being said, as Graziano noted, bringing in a young offensive-mind to serve as Shula's offensive coordinator could quickly change minds.
As for Shula's background, he joined the Rams in 2017 when Sean McVay was hired there and has stuck around on the staff ever since. He first served as LA's assistant linebackers coach and also has served as the outside linebackers coach, linebackers coach, pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach, pass rush coordinator/linebackers coach (again), and finally got promoted to defensive coordinator in 2024.
Now in his second year as the Rams DC, Shula's popularity is picking up steam and he should be in line to land a head coaching gig. Will that be with the Titans? We'll have to see how this all shakes out but it's not uncommon for teams to rotate between an offensive-minded guy and a defensive-minded guy so maybe Tennessee takes that approach here.
If the Titans do bring in Shula as their next head coach, hopefully whoever follows him to Nashville as his offensive coordinator can help Ward blossom as a signal-caller. That's the most important thing with this hire is that whoever comes in can help Ward be the best possible quarterback he can be. If that's Shula, then bring him in.