The Tennessee Titans admitted defeat on Brian Callahan, firing him on Monday following a lackluster 20-10 Week 6 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Callahan was officially dismissed after compiling a record of 4-19 in less than two full seasons in charge.
Callahan earned his pink slip. The Titans were totally uncompetitive and inept on a weekly basis under his watch. Callahan's offense scored 83 points in six contests this year, a franchise-low mark dating back to 1985, per ESPN Research.
Callahan's firing was inevitable. An interim will be named in his place, but the Titans should begin the process of searching for his full-time successor. Their next coach should be obvious. Mike McCarthy is the correct choice.
Mike McCarthy should succeed Brian Callahan as Titans' next HC
McCarthy last coached the Dallas Cowboys in 2024. They mutually parted ways after failing to agree to terms on a contract extension. McCarthy went 49-35 across five years in Dallas, including three consecutive 12-win seasons.
The Titans' gamble on Callahan backfired. The organization needs an experienced head coach to provide stability. McCarthy is an 18-year coaching veteran who won a Super Bowl in Green Bay.
McCarthy has also coached great quarterbacks. His resume includes helping develop Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott. With Cam Ward playing an uneven brand of football and regressing weekly, McCarthy would be a terrific choice to help the No. 1 overall quarterback make progress.
And perhaps most notably, McCarthy has a key connection to the Titans' front office that could help make him a legitimate candidate. Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker, who recently entered a keynote position of power within the organization, spent a decade alongside McCarthy in Green Bay. That relationship could play a role.
The Titans' vacancy will be significantly more appealing than the surface indicates. An opportunity to coach Ward will be viewed as a favorable one around the league. The Titans are also on schedule to earn a top-three selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they'll possess a league-leading amount of cap space. They're also moving into a stunning new stadium in 2027.
McCarthy is a terrific candidate who's searching for his third opportunity. The McCarthy-Brinker relationship could make him a candidate. The Titans should identify the seasoned leader now that their search has officially begun.