Latest news with #BrianCallahan
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Is Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan on the hot seat in 2025?
Is Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan on the hot seat in 2025? The Tennessee Titans are coming off a disappointing 2024 campaign; a season that was so bad that many wondered if head coach Brian Callahan would survive his first season at the helm. In the end, owner Amy Adams Strunk decided to part ways with general manager Ran Carthon and bring in a new front office structure led by Mike Borgonzi. While Callahan survived that round, can he afford another dismal season in 2025? That is the question addressed by Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus, who has Callahan in his top-10 head coaches on the hot seat. Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans Although first-year head coaches Jerod Mayo and Antonio Pierce were let go after their first full seasons, Callahan survived the cut. But more is necessary to avoid a similar fate to his counterparts. Under Callahan's guidance, Tennessee ended a woeful 3-14 in 2024. Callahan's offensive success with the Bengals hardly translated, as the Titans ended the year 29th in EPA per play, 25th in success rate, and 27th in average yards per play. Callahan now has his hand-picked quarterback of the future in No. 1 overall draft selection Cam Ward (91.7 PFF passing grade), in addition to an upgraded roster featuring Kevin Zeitler (86.5 PFF overall grade) and Dan Moore Jr. (66.9 PFF pass-blocking grade). Although this team is still among the league's worst in terms of talent — and years away from contending — Callahan will need to get the wheels moving in the right direction, particularly on offense, or he risks being fired after his second campaign. Borgonzi and the Titans not only addressed the offense during free agency, but they also spent six of their nine draft choices on that side of the ball, giving Callahan the tools needed to turn things around on that side of the ball. If he doesn't, he could very well be headed out of Nashville. It is a trend across the NFL that general managers are closely tied to head coaches and quarterbacks. With Borgonzi inheriting Callahan, if the team struggles, a move in a different direction would not be a surprise, and the move would be somewhat justified. Tennessee plays in one of the worst divisions in the NFL and will face one of the easiest schedules in the league during the 2025 season. If Callahan can't start turning it around, he may never be able to do it.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Preseason game between Tennessee Titans and Minnesota Vikings will be nationally televised
The NFL announced Thursday that five preseason games will be nationally televised in 2025, and, surprisingly, the final one on the schedule will feature the Tennessee Titans. In Week 3, the Tennessee Titans will host the Minnesota Vikings at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game will be played under the lights and broadcast on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, August 22. After being shut out of the primetime schedule on the 2025 NFL regular season schedule, the league decided to spotlight the Titans on the final Friday of the preseason. The biggest question is, will Cam Ward see much action? The final week of the preseason is usually reserved for those fighting for roster spots, but in 2024, the Titans game-planned for the preseason finale and played most of their starters for an extended stretch. Advertisement This presents an interesting situation for head coach Brian Callahan, who will have to weigh several factors. With Ward being a rookie, he will need as many reps as possible before traveling to Denver for the season opener. But what other offensive starters should play with him, and for how long? Luckily, the Vikings will also likely have a young, inexperienced quarterback under center in J.J. McCarthy, making this an intriguing battle. This may also be the only time the national television audience will have the opportunity to see Ward in action. After the lack of coverage on Ward and the Titans throughout the offseason, Callahan might want to send a message that the Titans deserve more coverage. This article originally appeared on Titans Wire: Preseason game between Titans and Vikings will be nationally televised
Associated Press
6 days ago
- General
- Associated Press
Titans coach Brian Callahan trying to temper expectations for rookie QB Cam Ward
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee coach Brian Callahan is doing his best to temper expectations that rookie Cam Ward will be the Titans' starting quarterback the season. The Titans still have the offseason to complete, not to mention training camp and the preseason before opening this upcoming season Sept. 7 at Denver. So don't even look at who's rotating in at quarterback. Callahan said Wednesday the Titans don't even have a breakdown of first team, second team or starters on the second day of the team's third phase of the offseason program. Who goes first today might be different the next. 'There's a plan in place for all the quarterbacks,' Callahan said. That's just fine for Ward. The No. 1 pick overall out of Miami is expected to be that starter once the season begins if only because of where he was selected combined with Tennessee going 3-14 with Will Levis who was 2-10 as a starter in 2024. 'I'm on Coach Callahan timeline, so that's really not my decision,' Ward said. 'But I know I still got a lot to work on, a lot of processing to do to play in the NFL. I think I'm getting up there at a rapid pace. And so, I'm excited. Well, I just think the biggest thing for me is it's, you know, just taking it day by day.' The rotation was real Wednesday with Brandon Allen, who played for the Titans coach in Cincinnati, taking the first snap in one drill. When Ward isn't in drills, he said he's focused on formations, play calls and motions to keep learning the offense. The rookie made a couple of nice deep throws to Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor. Ward showed he's still a rookie with the ball hitting the ground on a snap. Veteran center Lloyd Cushenberry is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury that ended his first season in Tennessee after eight games. Ward also credited Levis with being among the first players to come up to him in the locker room ready to compete and work. Ward said it's been exciting to work with someone who's played actual NFL games. 'I'll be able to take a little advice from him so it's been good,' Ward said. For his part, Levis said he had plenty of time before the April draft to get used to the idea of Tennessee using the No. 1 pick overall at his position. That helped ease the shock of Ward being taken. Levis still has to deal with a new challenge of likely being the backup if Tennessee doesn't trade him before the opener. 'Anyone who's ever been in my situation can agree that it (stinks),' Levis said. 'Just trying to do everything I can to not let it affect me. Just being just the same dude every day in the building and being here for the guys however I can and just trying to get better every day.' Callahan said he can see real improvement out of Levis after the quarterback worked this offseason with Jordan Palmer in California on his footwork, base and ability to control the ball. The Titans also said Levis understands that being a pro quarterback means competing every day to keep a job. Levis sprinted from drill to drill Wednesday. But a reminder of one of Levis' biggest struggles last season came when he was intercepted by Mark Perry for a pick-6 on the final play. Absences from workout DLs Jeffery Simmons and T'Vondre Sweat, WR Tyler Lockett and RG Kevin Zeitler were not seen Wednesday. CB L'Jarius Sneed and Cushenberry were not seen as they rehab from injuries. WR Treylon Burks, rookie S Kevin Winston Jr. and RB Kalel Mullings remained busy with rehab work on a side field. ___ AP NFL:
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS NFL's No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward gets paid by the Tennessee Titans with huge fully-guaranteed deal
The Tennessee Titans have signed No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward to his rookie contract. The Titans announced Wednesday that Ward has signed his deal but did not share financial details. According to ESPN, it is worth $48.7million over four years and fully guaranteed. That leaves only two of Tennessee's nine draft picks still unsigned ahead of the third phase of offseason, which starts Monday. The 6-foot-2, 219-pound Ward played 57 games over five seasons starting at Incarnate Word in 2020, Washington State in 2022 and then his final year in college last season at Miami. He finished with career 18,184 yards passing and set a Division I record with 158 touchdown passes. Ward was an All-American and Heisman finalist after throwing for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns and leading the Hurricanes to their first 10-win season since 2017. The Titans have made clear Ward will have to win the starting job over Will Levis, the 33rd overall pick in 2023. They also have veteran backup quarterbacks Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle. The Titans, 3-14 a year ago, revealed earlier this week that they would be splitting reps evenly between Ward and Levis, with head coach Brian Callahan noting that Ward had a lot of ground to cover this offseason. 'There's so much work to be done between now and (the start of the season), particularly for him,' Callahan said. 'I feel good about where he's at and the work we've put in.'
Reuters
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward inks deal with Titans
May 21 - The Tennessee Titans on Wednesday signed quarterback Cam Ward, the top overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. The fully guaranteed contract is for four years and $48.7 million, per reporting from ESPN. "It's a blessing," Ward said. "I'm ready to get to work." Ward, 22, passed for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns, both single-season school records for the University of Miami, en route to being selected the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year last fall. The consensus All-American finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting. In becoming the Division I record-holder for career touchdown passes with 158, Ward played two seasons at FCS Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State, where he played two more seasons ahead of his final season at Miami. The Titans, 3-14 a year ago, revealed earlier this week that they would be splitting reps evenly between Ward and incumbent Will Levis, with head coach Brian Callahan noting that Ward had a lot of ground to cover this offseason. "There's so much work to be done between now and (the start of the season), particularly for him," Callahan said. "I feel good about where he's at and the work we've put in." Seven of the team's nine draft picks have been inked to deals, with linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo and wide receiver Chimere Dike yet to sign. --Field Level Media
