With the Tennessee Titans announcing the firing of offensive coordinator Todd Downing on Monday, finding a new play caller will be added to the team's offseason to-do list.

Here is an early look at some of the potential candidates for the job in Tennessee.

Tim Kelly, Passing Game Coordinator, Tennessee Titans

Tim Kelly worked on the Houston Texans' coaching staff alongside Mike Vrabel from 2014-2017 before Vrabel got the Titans' head coaching job. After Vrabel left for Tennessee, Kelly was promoted to offensive coordinator in Houston for three seasons (2019-2021) before joining his former colleague in 2022.

This past season, Kelly served as the Titans' passing game coordinator, often working in with Luke Steckel and the tight ends during daily practices. It's worth noting that each of Tennessee's last two offensive coordinators, Arthur Smith and Todd Downing, served as the tight ends coach before being promoted to the offensive coordinator role.

Many have viewed Kelly as the "coordinator in waiting" should things go south with Downing. Now that things are officially south, Kelly could probably be considered a frontrunner for the job.

Kliff Kingsbury, former Arizona Cardinals Head Coach

Former Arizona Cardinals head coach and NFL quarterback Kliff Kingsbury is an old teammate of Mike Vrabel's from his days in New England. Kingsbury was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft.

10 months after signing him to a seven-year contract extension, the Cardinals fired Kingsbury on Monday after four seasons as head coach. Arizona was 28-37-1 with just one playoff game during his tenure.

Still, Kingsbury knows offense. His 2011 offense at the University of Houston led college football when it averaged 50 points and nearly 600 yards per game. He would later become the head coach at his alma mater, Texas Tech University, where he coached Patrick Mahomes and the Red Raiders to having the 6th best offense in Division-I FBS football.

His Arizona Cardinals ranked in the Top 10 in yards per game in two of his four seasons in the desert. Add that to his relationship with Vrabel (the two coaches planned joint practices during training camp together) and Kingsbury has to be considered another candidate for the OC vacancy.

Joe Brady, Quarterbacks Coach, Buffalo Bills

Joe Brady burst onto the coaching scene in 2019, when he helped turn the LSU Tigers offense into one of the most dominant units college football had ever seen.

Brady was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for an offense that had Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson, Ja'Marr Chase, and current Titans wide receiver Racey McMath. His innovative offensive blend of RPO's and vertical passing had him coveted by NFL teams everywhere.

Brady went to work for Matt Rhule as the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers for the 2020 season, but was fired after just two seasons on staff.

In 2022, Brady is once again turning heads as the quarterbacks coach for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills, where the offense was second in both points and yards per game. Perhaps Brady just needs another chance to take over an offense in a better situation than the one he had in Carolina.

Bill O'Brien, Offensive Coordinator, University of Alabama

Mike Vrabel's first NFL coaching experience came as an assistant on Bill O'Brien's staff with the 2014 Houston Texans.

O'Brien spent seven seasons as the head coach of the Texans, and even coached against Vrabel on multiple occasions before being fired by the team in 2020 with a 52-48 all-time record. Houston won two playoff games during O'Brien's tenure.

Since his departure from the organization, O'Brien has been working as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, and primary play caller for Nick Saban at the University of Alabama. His success with the Tide now has him back in the conversation for NFL job openings.

O'Brien was one of the first names linked to the Titans following the Downing news on Monday, as it's well known that Vrabel likes familiarity and loyalty.

Brian Hartline, Passing Game Coordinator, Ohio State University

Over the past five seasons as the wide receivers coach at Ohio State, former NFL wide receiver Brian Hartline has helped develop Terry McLaurin, Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson, Jaxson Smith-Njigba, and Marvin Harrison Jr. to an NFL level.

During his playing career, Hartline caught 344 passes for 4,766 yards at the NFL level. He also had back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons in 2012 and 2013 for the Miami Dolphins with…Ryan Tannehill as his quarterback.

Hartline's stock continues to rise in the coaching world, and it wouldn't be the first time Mike Vrabel hired from his alma mater. Outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow came from Ohio State and hopped aboard Vrabel's staff in 2018 after working as a graduate assistant with the Buckeyes.

Frank Reich, former Indianapolis Colts Head Coach

"I think Frank’s an unbelievable football coach and an unbelievable man. I’ve gotten to know Frank well in the time we’ve been in the division and some of the committees we've been in on. I’ll try to obviously reach out to Frank and support him however I can."

Those were the words of Titans head coach Mike Vrabel when the Indianapolis Colts fired Frank Reich earlier this season despite a 40-33-1 overall record and two playoff appearances in four seasons.

Reich was an NFL quarterback for 13 seasons from 1985-1998 before getting into the coaching world in 2006. In eight years, he rose the ranks from coaching intern to offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers in 2014-15, then Philadelphia Eagles in 2016-17.

The 2017 Philadelphia Eagles, with Reich calling the shots on offense, were a top three scoring unit in the NFL and would go on to score 40 points in and win Super Bowl LII.

Reich was given five different quarterbacks in his five seasons as head coach in Indy, but was still the scape goat for Jim Irsay after a 3-5-1 start this season (Indianapolis would finish 4-12-1).

Spending a year in Tennessee alongside Vrabel and helping rebuild the Titans' offense would launch Reich into his next head coaching opportunity. His familiarity with the AFC South and Vrabel's coaching style would make the transition seamless.

Thomas Brown, Tight Ends/Asst. Head Coach, Los Angeles Rams

If the Titans are looking to fill their offensive coordinator vacancy with a young and upcoming coaching prospect, they should make a call to Thomas Brown of the Los Angeles Rams.

Brown is a 36-year-old former NFL running back with experience as a collegiate offensive coordinator. He has also coached a variety of position groups at the NFL level, and spent two years learning first-hand from one of the best head coaches in the NFL.

From 2016-2018, Brown was the offensive coordinator at the University of Miami (FL). The team averaged 34.3 points per game in his first season in the role. He would later join Sean McVay's staff in Los Angeles for the 2020 season, and has held positions as the running backs coach, tight ends coach, and assistant head coach over his three seasons in LA.

McVay's coaching tree is one of the best out there (Matt LaFleur, Zac Taylor, Brandon Staley, Kevin O'Connell, etc.), and Brown could be exactly what the Titans need to take their offense to the next level in 2023.