NASHVILLE — Tennessee Titans President of Football Operations Chad Brinker announced that he is “leaving the organization to pursue other opportunities.” The hiring of general manager Mike Borgonzi in 2025 diminished Brinker’s role and responsibilities.

One of the major figures in the Titans failed attempt to pivot in a post Mike Vrabel – Jon Robinson world walks out on his own accord.

Did Brinker help or hurt the Titans more?

General manager Ran Carthon and head coach Brian Callahan were the hires at the forefront of that Titanic collapse.

Brinker came in in 2023 as an assistant general manager to Carthon.

In Carthon’s second year, he was promoted to Executive Vice President/General Manager. Brinker, however, was also promoted over Carthon with the title of President of Football Operations. The move was extremely confusing and unlike any other organizational structure in the NFL.

It was also a catastrophic failure.

“This is not my father’s NFL,” said controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk at the time. “As our league continues to evolve in areas like analytics, sports science, and technology, football organizations have become more complex and multifaceted. I want our football operation to be at the forefront of the NFL as teams continue to find new competitive advantages. In this new role, Chad will blend his executive experience with his strengths in football and scouting to ensure our football operation continues to innovate and grow as new opportunities emerge. Chad’s oversight of these areas will allow Ran to focus his full attention and energy on building and leading a championship football team.”

Carthon and Callahan were ultimately fired as the combination of the three proceeded to go a combined 6-28 over two seasons.

It is unclear whether the decision to split the role of general manager was a conclusion that Adams Strunk came to alone. These decisions are rarely made on a whim, no matter how impulsive an NFL ownership group can be. However or whomever helped Adams Strunk arrive at her course of action, it set the franchise back considerably.

Borgonzi does not need training wheels

In the three years that Brinker spent with the team and rose through the organization, Tennessee failed to finish better than last place in the AFC South.

Brinker did help target and land Borgonzi, a top general manager candidate in 2025. Perhaps Borgonzi would have viewed the Titans and the 2025 No. 1 overall draft pick regardless. Borgonzi has also cited Brinker as “invaluable” to him on several occasions.

Either way, it is Borgonzi’s show to run now.

Borgonzi took over final say of the 53-man roster in January. He lead the search to replace Callahan and hired Robert Saleh. The head coach contractually reports to Borgonzi as a part of his promotion.

Brinker and Borgonzi would then both report to Adams Strunk.

In 2025, Borgonzi and Callahan reported to Brinker. Brinker’s loss of roster control was the result of the change and was positioned as “streamlining the operation and making clear who’s in charge of football decisions.” That new efficiency made Brinker expendable.

Brinker’s departure comes at a time when Tennessee could use a clean break from anyone involved with the last three years.

Featured Image: USA TODAY Sports.