Brian

Callahan

Carthon takes on more power within the organization after the Titans fired Mike Vrabel, who didn’t see eye to eye with Carthon on the direction of the team. The Titans said Carthon’s responsibilities will expand to include “all areas that impact the football team: roster control, team activities and personnel decisions including draft and free agency acquisitions. Carthon will also have “oversight of [head coach Brian] Callahan and his coaching staff, scouting, sports medicine, and player engagement.” It’s clear the organization will be led by Carthon. There will be no power-sharing arrangement like there was when Vrabel was in Tennessee.

Callahan was on many teams’ short list this offseason after the Bengals scored 21.5 points per game while fighting through a multitude of injuries in 2023. Callahan, hailing from the Gary Kubiak coaching tree, has previously worked with legitimate quarterbacks such as Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, and Joe Burrow. What the Titans decide to do at quarterback this offseason could shape the franchise for years to come, and Callahan is likely to now have his hand in the decision.

According to Rapoport, Callahan will meet with the Titans on Monday and then sit down with the Panthers on Tuesday. He’ll close things out with the Falcons, but the veteran offensive coordinator has had a hot market this offseason. His efforts with Jake Browning over the final seven weeks of the season likely boosted his stock, as the former undrafted free agent surprised during his time as a starter, going 4-3 while throwing for 1,936-12-7 and completing 70.4 percent of his passes.

Callahan had an interview last week, but all first round interviews are being conducted over Zoom. His second interview would be an in-person one and won’t take place until next week. Callahan also interviewed for the Chargers’ job, but there’s no word yet on if he will receive a second interview there as well, and he will interview for the first time with the Panthers on Thursday.

The Chargers have held meetings with several candidates and Callahan became the latest. He’s been with the Bengals since 2019 and met with the Chargers via zoom. Jim Harbaugh and Todd Monken were among the other candidates that also met with the Chargers.

In addition to speaking to the Titans on Friday, Callahan will also speak with the Chargers next Tuesday. The Bengals’ offensive coordinator has become a wanted man over this past week and is also expected to meet with the Panthers and Falcons this coaching cycle. Callahan has helped lead the Bengals’ offense to top-10 seasons in back-to-back years, and helped keep the Bengals in playoff contention after losing Joe Burrow for the season in Week 10.

As Pelissero notes in his report, the Falcons are now the fourth team to request a sit down with Callahan. In addition to Atlanta, Callahan is also being targeted by the Titans, Panthers, and Chargers. Callahan helped keep the Bengals in the playoff hunt through much of the regular season despite losing Joe Burrow in Week 11 and had the Bengals playing like a top-10 offense in 2021 and 2022. A growing name in coaching circles, Callahan appears to be a legitimate contender for one of the multiple head coaching vacancies across the league.

The Chargers are looking at offensive-minded coaches, first interviewing their own offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and now looking at Callahan. The Bengals had back-to-back top-10 scoring seasons under Callahan in 2021 and 2022, with 2023 bringing on Jake Browning after Joe Burrow was lost for the season. Callahan helped keep the Bengals in the playoff race until Week 17 with Browning. He was on the head coaching radar last offseason and once again finds himself in the mix this offseason.

Callahan did some of his finest work in the back half of this season. He’s spent the last five seasons with the Bengals and led them to back-to-back top-10 scoring seasons in 2021 and 2022. After losing Joe Burrow for the season in Week 11’s contest against the Ravens, Callahan and the Bengals averaged 23.4 points per game with first-time starter Jake Browning and remained in the playoff race up until a Week 17 loss to the Chiefs. Callahan was the subject of head coaching searches last offseason and could once again be eyeing greener pastures should the right opportunity arise.

Callahan got a second interview with the Colts and was one of the finalists for the job. Giants DC Don Martindale and OC Mike Kafka are also out of the running in Indy. Eagles OC Shane Steichen is the favorite to be hired as the Colts’ next head coach.