Who will be the Tennessee Titans’ next GM?
The Tennessee Titans fired general manager Ran Carthon on Tuesday. In doing so, team owner Amy Adams Strunk awarded control of all football-related matters to president of football operations Chad Brinker, who was initially hired by Carthon as assistant GM before being promoted to a role above him.
Brinker will now be the primary decision maker while also overseeing the process to appoint Carthon’s successor. Adams Strunk also announced that Brian Callahan will be retained as head coach. To summarize, the next GM won’t actually be a GM, nor will he possess the freedom to make a decision regarding the head coach.
Despite those peculiar circumstances to deal with, someone will want Tennessee’s GM job. It’s one of 32. The team owns the No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. Secondly, the New York Jets have the league’s only other vacancy in an offseason that’s uncharacteristically short on GM openings, and the Jets are even more dysfunctional than the Titans are.
After nailing the Carthon hiring last time, we’ve identified three potential candidates to succeed him.
Jon-Eric Sullivan, Green Bay Packers VP of Player Personnel
Green Bay Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan should immediately be considered a strong candidate. Brinker is overseeing the hiring process after previously spending 13 seasons alongside Sullivan in Titledown. It’s natural to assume he may prefer to appoint someone he already has an existing relationship with.
Sullivan has worked in a variety of departments with the Packers, previously serving as co-director of player personnel and director of college scouting. It’s critical that Brinker appoints someone he trusts so the Titans could finally have continuation and chemistry in their front office. Hiring Sullivan would achieve that.
Ian Cunningham, Chicago Bears Assistant GM
The Titans interviewed Chicago Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham before hiring Carthon. Cunningham has remained a favorite to eventually land a GM job. Will the Titans give the more experienced version another shot to interview?
Cunningham’s reputation hasn’t exactly increased in Chicago. The Bears just endured a painfully disappointing season and are about to hire another head coach. Despite that, both Cunningham and GM Ryan Poles have retained their jobs. He should possess interest in jumping ship if afforded an opportunity.
Mike Borgonzi, Kansas City Chiefs Assistant GM
Kansas City Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi is the big-fish swing. Borgonzi has routinely spurned outside interest in recent offseasons, opting to continue building a dynasty alongside Andy Reid, Brett Veach, and Patrick Mahomes. The Titans have to at least make their interest in interviewing him public.
Would Borgonzi possess interest in leaving Kansas City for Tennessee, where he’d have to answer to Brinker? Probably not, but the Titans have to nonetheless test his resolve. Perhaps owning the No. 1 overall selection in the upcoming draft would entice him.