The Tennessee Titans were embarrassed on Sunday, losing 41-20 at home to their AFC South rival Indianapolis Colts. It represented the franchise's ninth consecutive loss dating back to the 2024 campaign, their sixth straight at Nissan Stadium. Head coach Brian Callahan is now an unthinkable 3-17 through 20 contests in charge, and is undoubtedly on the hot seat.
The scenes at Nissan Stadium were grim on Sunday. Even in Week 3, the presence of No. 1 overall quarterback Cam Ward isn't enough to maintain a fair weather fan base's interest in the team, proven by the lackluster attendance numbers. Owner Amy Adams Strunk was in attendance for Sunday's disaster.
Adams Strunk was on the field during a halftime ceremony when CEO Burke Nihill was booed before he helped induct Mike Keith into the Titans' Ring of Honor. Keith, rightfully so, received loud cheers from the emphatic crowd, who made their disdain for Callahan and the current football product abundantly clear. If Callahan is fired anytime soon, and the chances of him being let go increased on Sunday, the Titans have a potential interim successor on staff in senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy.
Titans' offensive assistant Mike McCoy is the perfect Brian Callahan interim successor
McCoy is one of three Titans assistants on staff with interim/head coaching experience. Bill Callahan and John "Bones" Fassel are the other two. The elder Callahan would obviously be disinterested in succeeding his fired son, and there's merit in keeping Fassel as the special teams coordinator, considering how much that unit has improved.
The Titans hired the 53-year-old McCoy earlier this year. He was the Denver Broncos' offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2012, and the San Diego Chargers' head coach from 2013 to 2016. McCoy amassed a coaching record of 27-37, and his four years of experience would make him a legitimate candidate in a caretaker role.
McCoy then returned to the Broncos as offensive coordinator in 2017, and held the same role with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018. He could call plays if necessary. Alternatively, assuming Callahan disciple and current OC Nick Holz would be fired alongside him, quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree would be a good candidate to call plays after doing so on an interim basis with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023.
The Titans have options should they fire Callahan and need to name an interim. Dennard Wilson and Fassel will probably receive the majority of recommendations. However, McCoy is the most logical candidate, with quarterbacks coach Hardegree in a play-calling role.