As the Tennessee Titans continue their downward spiral in search of rock bottom, they will have to do so without Ran Carthon, who was fired as general manager on Tuesday.
A sizable portion of the fan base complained for months that things needed to change in the organization, but owner Amy Adams Strunk made the miscalculation of taking a half-measure. Despite Carthon's dismissal, head coach Brian Callahan will be retained, and president of football operations Chad Brinker will oversee the process of appointing Carthon's successor.
Those fans only got a drop of blood when they were searching for a blood bath.
We can argue about what Strunk should have done once we see all the moves the team makes this offseason, but right now, she continues to show that she doesn't possess the patience to run her team effectively.
The Titans aren't like any other team in the NFL. Good or (most likely) bad, they will have a unique power structure, and the job titles that people have don't mean the same things in Tennessee that they do in other places.
As we sit and wait for a new "GM" to be hired, let's take a look at the "organizational chart" for the Titans for 2025.
Owner: Amy Adams Strunk
Members of the Adams family have stakes in the Titans organization, but what happens to this team is solely based on how Adams Strunk feels in January each year.
Second-in-command: Chad Brinker (President of Football Operations)
Give credit to local radio personality Jared Stillman. From the very start, Stillman pointed out how strange it was that Brinker was given the title of President (above Carthon) and that he was mentioned every time Carthon's name was mentioned. As it turns out, Brinker does hold a shocking amount of power in the organization, and his grip on the team is even stronger now.
Hidden in Adams Strunk's official statement was the key fact that Brinker will now:
-Lead the search for the next "GM"
-Have control of the roster moves
-Have final say on "all football matters"
Basically, Brinker will be given the power that most general managers have, including roster control, which sometimes goes to the GM, and sometimes goes to the head coach. It will be neither in Tennessee under the new power structure.
This is important: While the #Titans are conducting a GM search, President of Football Operations Chad Brinker will have final authority over all football matters, including the roster. Brinker will have the power to "break ties" on all final decisions, including the final 53-man… https://t.co/umRJbqBbVC
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 7, 2025
The guys that offer suggestions with no real power: Brian Callahan and the new GM
Whoever the next GM is, he or she won't possess any real power in the traditional sense. The next GM will essentially be an assistant GM, focusing "on the roster and the coaching staff," as the Titans search for a GM who, "wakes up every day and is focused on building the team," per Brinker himself.
What happens next?
This is Brinker's show until it isn't, and to be fair, his impressive background indicates he's earned a shot at the GM role (even if he isn't getting the title). Brinker was a highly coveted talent evaluator after more than a dozen years rising up the ranks with the Green Bay Packers, and he has been the key figure driving the analytics movement in Tennessee.
As an owner, Strunk has fired someone during or after every losing season, so if things don't turn around quickly, Brinker could be fighting for his life next January. So, expect some big swings from Brinker as he tries to cement himself as the lead man in Tennessee.
Also, Titans fans should be rooting for Brinker to succeed. Regardless of whether you think Adams Strunk made the right decision, this organization is desperate for stability. You have to hope that Adams Strunk stumbled into a good decision.