Titans head coach candidates list expected to interview in the first round of the hiring process

Here’s who to expect to interview for the Titans head coach job

Easton Freeze — Tennessee Titans Beat Writer
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The time for theorizing on the Titans’ head coach search is nearing an end. The first interview requests are being sent out, GM Mike Borgonzi is speaking to the media on Tuesday, and the first virtual interviews could begin as soon as that same day. But who will be on the short-list? Here’s what I think, I feel, and I know about the pool of candidates:

Potential Titans head coach candidates

Let’s start with what I know: Chiefs OC Matt Nagy and former Packers and Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy will be getting initial interviews, as I reported this weekend. This comes as a surprise to nobody, since these two have been connected to GM Mike Borgonzi (from Kansas City) and President of Football Operations Chad Brinker (from Green Bay) since October when Brian Callahan was dismissed.

I’m hearing that the initial short list will be roughly a dozen names long, with the potential to grow by a couple names as the process unfolds. I’m also hearing that their list doesn’t really contain any “big surprises”, though what that actually means is up to interpretation. In general, I think it’s safe to assume it will at least be mostly common names in this cycle. Combine that with the last thing I’m hearing—which is that the Titans will interview at least a couple of candidates who may not be the strongest for the head job, but will be good exploratory/potential coordinator interviews—and who knows which young or new name we might see pop up on the list.

What does all of that tell me? That while we may see a candidate like Anthony Campanile (Jaguars DC), Brad Idzik (Panthers OC), or Nate Scheelhaase (Rams Passing Game Coordinator) pop up on the list, I wouldn’t bank on it. And certainly no Jon Gruden’s. Sorry, Gruden bros.

So who should we bank on? three defensive coordinators who I consider locks to get invited to interview are Packers DC Jeff Hafley, 49ers DC Robert Saleh, and Rams DC Chris Shula. Those three will be very hot commodities in this cycle, which brings us to five names. A sidenote on Hafley: I adore him as a candidate, but he has significant ties to the Giants and New Jersey. When I see him consistently connected in reports to that opening, and hear stories of his Mom living by the stadium, and Hafley buying 30 tickets to Packers-Giants this year… I can’t help but pencil him in for that job. So while I do think the Titans at least get a chance to interview him, I’ll be surprised if the Giants are foolish enough to pass on him at this point.

Then there are five more offensive and five more defensive names I think are likely to make the list who are worth mentioning. First, on defense:

  • Chargers DC Jesse Minter
  • Broncos DC Vance Joseph
  • Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver
  • Colts DC Lou Anarumo
  • Texans DC Matt Burke

Minter is talked about like he’s one of the hottest candidates in this cycle as well, I just haven’t heard him connected to the Titans much in particular yet. I’d bet he gets a call. Joseph is in the same boat, and the former Broncos head coach might be one of the most under-discussed candidates in this cycle. Weaver is a guy who has gotten a ton of buzz as the season has progressed and his Dolphins unit has flashed. He’s young at just 45 years old and has been a play calling defensive coordinator twice (Houston 2020 and Miami 2024).

Anarumo is somebody I’m a bit confused about in this coaching cycle. His name keeps coming up on national shortlists, which means that at least his agent is bullish on him getting interviews. But his one year in Indy has been pretty up and down, and the year prior he was fired as a scapegoat in Cincinnati. He’s 59 years old and I think he’s a darn good defensive coordinator, but I’m not sure if his future is actually in head coaching. And how would it be received by Titans fans if this franchise moved off of Zac Taylor’s old OC for his old DC? Good luck selling that…

Finally, I include Matt Burke on this list because I think he’s precisely the kind of exploratory/coordinator interview the Titans will want to do. I’m not sure he’s the strongest candidate for the head job, but he was made the play caller of the Texans’ suffocating defense after their 0-3 start this season. He has DC experience from his time in Miami in 2017-2018 as well. At 49, I bet the Titans kick the tires on him.

Now for some offensive coordinator names:

  • Commanders DC Kliff Kingsbury
  • Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak
  • Giants OC Mike Kafka
  • Steelers OC Arthur Smith
  • Broncos Pass Game Coordinator Davis Webb

Kliff Kingsbury was a very hot head coach retread option coming into 2025, but the way this season has gone in Washington, he now finds himself in a funky spot. I get the impression the Titans will offer him an interview, but he is reportedly dealing with the potential of losing his coordinator gig in Washington this week. I’d see that as a serious scapegoating, but interviewing a freshly-fired coordinator for your head coach opening would be a funny look. Everything I’ve heard about this coaching cycle from a 10,000ft view this year is that the number of head coach openings will be low, but the coordinator re-shuffle could potentially be dramatic.

Kubiak is a hot name thanks to a wildly impressive year from the Seahawks offense. The appeal of him is that he’s been calling plays for a pair of seasons and is doing it without “the guy” in Sam Darnold. Fair or not, it would be a pivot from Brian Callahan who came up with Stafford, Manning and Burrow. It wouldn’t be a pivot away from NFL nepo-babies though! The name Kubiak ring a bell?

Mike Kafka is a coach the Titans have previous exposure too. He was an initial interviewee for the Titans opening in 2024 when Brian Callahan won it. His current gig is as the interim head coach of the Giants, who aren’t expected to offer him the full time job. I think the Titans will give him another interview, at least to consider him as a history-repeating coordinator candidate.

Arthur Smith just feels like such a given. He’s a former head coach with many years of play calling experience, which this Titans search will value mightily. And I think Amy Adams Strunk really likes him, which of course counts for something.

Finally, Davis Webb is my dart-throw on the offensive side of the ball. The 30 year old is an ascending name in coaching after beginning as a QB coach and getting promoted last spring. Would he be a serious candidate for the top job? No. But for a coordinator gig? I could see it.

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