Bill Callahan did not take a discount to join Brian Callahan with Titans

First-year Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan made his most important assistant coach hire when he convinced his legendary father Bill Callahan to become his offensive line coach. It was a sizable hire after the eldest Callahan previously stayed with the Cleveland Browns when his son became the Cincinnati Bengals' offensive coordinator. Now in an elevated role for the first time, Bill Callahan wanted to ensure he supported his son throughout the most important period of his coaching career.

That doesn't necessarily mean Callahan agreed to coach Tennessee's offensive line at a discounted price. Brian Callahan recently joined ESPN's Adam Schefter on his podcast and broke down how he managed to draw his father to Tennessee. In the social media clip published, Callahan joked that his father did not arrive with a discounted price.

"A huge hire for me," Callahan told Schefter. "He went to [Browns GM] Andrew Berry and worked it out. It wasn't a done deal or a sure thing. He told them he thought it was something he wanted to do [join me in Tennessee]. I'm thankful that the Browns organization allowed him to make the move. They certainly didn't have to. He was under contract and they didn't have to let him go. We had to negotiate a new contract. Business is business. He said here's X, Y, and Z, this is what I need. There was no family discount. It is what it is. We made it happen."

The timing for Callahan and the Titans couldn't have worked out any better. Brian Callahan confirmed that he and his father discussed the possibility of joining forces the previous cycle had he been hired by the Indianapolis Colts or Arizona Cardinals, two teams that interviewed him for their vacancy in 2023. The Callahan's had agreed to continue their careers on separate paths at that point.

"We had this conversation the year prior when I interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals during the previous cycle," Callahan added. "I went back for a second interview in Indianapolis and they asked about my dad. Him and I had already spoken and he was really happy in Cleveland. He loved working for Kevin Stefanski. He wanted me to do it on my own. After watching my press conference [in Nashville] on television, he [changed his mind] and felt compelled to come help his son get his first program off the ground."

Callahan certainly has his work cut out for him after the Titans allowed 64 sacks last season. Together, the Callahan's and offensive coordinator Nick Holz are implementing a new scheme with four new expected starters across the offensive line. Bill Callahan is helping first-round pick J.C. Latham make the transition from right to left tackle.

Elsewhere, Callahan is tasked with developing sophomore left guard Peter Skoronski. Right guard appears to be a three-player battle between Dillon Radunz, Saahdiq Charles, and Daniel Brunskill. Nicholas Petit-Frere is expected to be the right tackle. Callahan is working furiously to get a slew of young blockers ready to protect franchise quarterback Will Levis.

Callahan will have to earn every penny of his seemingly lucrative contract this season.