NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans have hired Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan. Controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk secured the 20th head coach in her franchise's history.

10 candidates will have interviewed in the 12 days since Strunk fired former coach Mike Vrabel.

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Callahan was the first person to interview for Tennessee virtually. The Titans immediately scheduled him for a follow-up interview and did not let him leave their building. 

Nothing is more important to Tennessee's future viability as a legitimate Super Bowl contender than the success of second-year passer Will Levis. He is essentially a first-round selection, acquired 32nd overall via a trade up in the 2023 NFL Draft. Night 1 of the draft saw only 31 players chosen with the Miami Dolphins forfeiting their first-round selection due to tampering violations. 

Everything accomplished this offseason, from personnel to staff decisions, must be done in service of Levis.

Callahan's hire is a huge first step towards that goal. A former walk-on quarterback himself at UCLA, Callahan has coached the position at the high school, college and professional levels. His resumé of helping passers like Derek Carr (2018), Matthew Stafford (2016-17), and Joe Burrow (2019-present) is difficult to match. 

The Titans need to evolve offensively. Callahan's time as the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati has been hugely successful, through continued adaption and the ability to maximize whomever is under center in his system. Callahan is not the play-caller for the Bengals, however. 

"Make no mistake about it, (Bengals head coach) Zac Taylor calls the plays, but Brian Callahan is a part of the diologue with Zac Taylor on every single play until time doesn't allow any more debate or conversation about it," said Cincinnati radio analyst and former Bengals offensive lineman Dave Lapham on 104.5 The Zone. "Then, Zac Taylor will make a decision. Brian Callahan has tremendous input on a play-by-play basis even though he's not the voice that's going into the helmet of the quarterback."

Cincinnati's system is as much Callahan's baby as it is Taylor's.

The Bengals were tested significantly in 2023. They finished last in the AFC North where all three of their divisional rivals made the postseason. Cincinnati still managed a winning record (9-8) despite Burrow laboring through injuries through the team's first four games and a 1-3 start. 

Burrow ultimately went on Injured Reserve 10 games into the regular season.

Callahan and staff found ways to patch together a 4-3 record down the stretch starting back-up quarterback Jake Browning. Browning threw 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions in those starts, and the Bengals scrapped each week to finish the year scoring 21.5 points per game. 

 "Last year we added a promising young quarterback and several other talented players to our roster," Strunk in her statement announcing Vrabel's firing. "With a coaching search, enviable cap space, and top-10 draft position, this offseason is as important as any in our history. I’m excited for the weeks and months ahead. We will meet the moment."

Levis is no longer the future. He is the present. 

Titans will trust Callahan to make sure they don't fall further behind.

Titans locking up their new head coach per report

They have their guy.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.