The Tennessee Titans have been conducting a thorough search to identify their next head coach. After more than 100 days since firing Brian Callahan, it seems like an end is in sight for this fan base.
While there are still interviews taking place, the buzz is circulating that the Titans are going to wrap up the first wave of interviews this weekend. The lengthy list of coaching candidates that they have interviewed so far, or who they are scheduled to interview this weekend, is:
Jesse Minter, L.A. Chargers DC
Raheem Morris, former Atlanta Falcons HC
Lou Anarumo, Indianapolis Colts DC
Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos DC
Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers DC
Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers DC
Jonathan Gannon, former Arizona Cardinals HC
Steve Spagnuolo, Kansas City Chiefs DC
Kevin Stefanski, former Cleveland Browns HC
Matt Nagy, former Chiefs OC
Mike McDaniel, former Miami Dolphins HC
Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys HC
Arthur Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers OC
Brian Daboll, former New York Giants HC
Jason Garrett, former Dallas Cowboys HC
Mike McCoy, former Titans interim HC
That is a massive list, but some of those names are much more likely to be quietly interviewing for a coordinator job if they don't land a head coaching job this year.
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Once it became clear the Titans would be moving on to their second round of interviews after this weekend, Paul Kuharsky said the next round would only include three or four candidates.
While there is no way to know for sure yet, the candidates that seem to have been getting the biggest push nationally and locally in Nashville are Matt Nagy, Robert Saleh, Mike McCarthy, and Mike McDaniel.
All four are former head coaches, and all but one have an offensive background. Those names all make sense because the Titans have been pushing for experienced leaders and coaches who will come in with a solid plan to build around Cam Ward. All of those coaches have worked with young quarterbacks before, and it makes sense that they would be prepared with a plan for how to work with Ward, as well as the pitfalls they would want to avoid.
For a fan base that has been craving a direction for months now, this should be an exciting time, but that will turn on a dime if Nagy's name is included as a finalist for the job. Maybe fans should keep an open mind, but whether it is fair or not, hiring Nagy will unfortunately put everyone in the hot seat again in Nashville until some games are won.