The air in Nashville usually smells like hot chicken and ambition, but lately, it’s just been smelling like change. If you've been following the sidelines at Nissan Stadium, you know the seat for the head coach of Tennessee Titans has become one of the hottest, and most volatile, in professional football.
Honestly, it’s been a whirlwind.
We’re sitting in January 2026, and the Titans are once again at a crossroads that feels all too familiar. After the Brian Callahan era ended abruptly in October 2025, Mike McCoy stepped in as the interim to steady a ship that was essentially underwater. But as the 2025 season wrapped up with a thud—a 3-14 record—the "interim" tag is likely exactly that: temporary.
What went wrong with the Brian Callahan experiment?
When Amy Adams Strunk and the front office hired Brian Callahan back in early 2024, the blueprint seemed solid. He was the "quarterback whisperer" from Cincinnati. He had the pedigree. He even brought his dad, legendary offensive line coach Bill Callahan, along for the ride.
But the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league, and Callahan’s "lately" was rough. He finished his tenure with a dismal 4-19 record. That’s a .174 winning percentage. To put that in perspective, out of nearly 250 coaches since the AFL-NFL merger, that ranks near the absolute bottom.
The tipping point wasn't just the losses; it was the stagnation of Cam Ward.
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Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft, was supposed to be the franchise savior. Instead, he spent most of the early season running for his life. By the time Callahan was let go after a 1-5 start in 2025, the offense was an "abject disaster," as some analysts put it. Callahan actually handed off play-calling duties to Bo Hardegree before he was fired, but the spark just never came. When you're the first coach fired in a season, you know the vibes in the building have gone sour.
The Mike McCoy Era (The Interim Version)
Mike McCoy took over the headset on October 13, 2025. McCoy isn't a newbie; he had a four-year run with the San Diego Chargers years ago. He’s a pro’s pro. He did what he could with a roster that was younger than a college frat house, starting at least seven rookies every single week.
"The foundation is here," McCoy told reporters during his final press conference on January 5, 2026. "You’ve got to continue to improve the roster, but they’ve got a very bright future."
McCoy went 2-9 during his interim stint. Not exactly a Hall of Fame run, but he did seem to help Cam Ward settle in. Ward threw for multiple scores in four of his last five games before a shoulder injury ended his season in Week 18. McCoy thanked everyone from the equipment staff to the media in a massive 1,400-word goodbye that felt like a man who knows he’s probably packing his boxes.
Who is next for the Tennessee Titans?
So, who is actually going to be the next head coach of Tennessee Titans? The rumor mill in Nashville is currently louder than a Broadway honky-tonk on a Saturday night.
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General Manager Mike Borgonzi, who came over from the Kansas City Chiefs front office, is leading the search. Naturally, that points a massive finger at Matt Nagy.
Nagy is currently the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs and has that "former head coach" experience the Titans are reportedly craving. He’s the betting favorite for a reason. He knows Borgonzi, and he has a track record of working with elite quarterback talent. If you want to fix Cam Ward, you hire the guy who has been whispering in Patrick Mahomes' ear.
But he isn't the only one in the mix. Here is who else is interviewing:
- Mike McCarthy: He took 2025 off after being let go by Dallas. He’s got the ring, the wins, and the stability.
- Jonathan Gannon: The former Cardinals coach interviewed just yesterday (January 16). He’s known for culture building, even if his win-loss record in Arizona wasn't pretty.
- Mike McDaniel: Freshly available after leaving Miami, he’s the "mad scientist" pick that fans are drooling over.
- Robert Saleh: If the Titans want to pivot back to a Mike Vrabel-style defensive identity, Saleh is the guy.
The Cam Ward Factor
Let's be real: this job is 100% about the quarterback.
The next head coach of Tennessee Titans isn't being hired to manage a roster; they're being hired to be a personal tutor for Cam Ward. The kid has a cannon for an arm and the athleticism to be a star, but he’s also the most-sacked quarterback in the league.
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The Titans have over $100 million in cap space and another premium draft pick coming up. This is a dream scenario for a coach, provided they can handle the pressure of a fan base that is tired of losing. They’ve seen Mike Vrabel, Brian Callahan, and Mike McCoy all cycle through in a very short window.
Why this matters for the 2026 season
The franchise is moving into a new stadium soon. Ownership—Amy Adams Strunk—is clearly impatient. She’s shown she’s willing to fire a GM (Ran Carthon) and a coach (Callahan) mid-stream if the "standard" isn't met.
What the Titans need is a leader who can bridge the gap between "rebuilding team" and "playoff contender." They have Jeffery Simmons anchored on defense, but the offensive line is still a work in progress, despite the elder Callahan's best efforts.
Basically, the Titans are a "fixer-upper" with a really expensive foundation.
Actionable Insights for Titans Fans
If you're trying to track where this is going, watch the interview schedule closely over the next 72 hours. The Titans are moving fast because they want their new leader in place before the Senior Bowl and the scouting combine.
- Look for the "Chiefs Connection": If Matt Nagy gets a second interview, it's likely his job to lose.
- Watch the Cam Ward health updates: Whoever takes the job needs to know if their franchise QB is going to be 100% for off-season workouts.
- Evaluate the Staff: A big tell for the next coach will be who they bring in as Offensive Coordinator. If it's a defensive-minded head coach like Saleh or Gannon, the OC hire becomes the most important person in Nashville.
The search for the permanent head coach of Tennessee Titans is entering its final, most intense stage. By the end of January, we should know who is tasking with leading the two-tone blue into the 2026 season.
Keep an eye on the official team announcements and local Nashville reporters like Jim Wyatt, as the second round of interviews is expected to conclude by mid-week. If the Titans land a big fish like McCarthy or a scheme-guru like Nagy, the expectations for 2026 will skyrocket instantly.