The Tennessee Titans lost 38-30 to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. They trailed 38-7 before nearly mounting a comeback versus a soft-shell defense. The non-competitive Titans fell to 3-12 and only possess a better record than the New York Giants (2-13). Head coach Brian Callahan is enduring a difficult debut season. Reporters asked Callahan if he anticipates having to make a case to owner Amy Adams Strunk to keep him employed at the conclusion of this campaign.
Callahan responded with, “I don’t know. I speak with her every week.”
Does Brian Callahan expect he’s going to have to make a case for himself to Amy Adams Strunk when this is over? “I don’t know.” #Titans pic.twitter.com/GUnl81NOEs
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 23, 2024
Adams Strunk made the bold decision to fire Mike Vrabel, the second-most successful coach in franchise history, and appoint Callahan after a lackluster 2022 season. The idea was to hire an offensive-minded coach who could “collaborate” with new general manager Ran Carthon. They collaborated to field a truly putrid team in 2024, spearheaded by an offense scoring a disappointing 18.9 points per contest.
Paul Kuharsky also brought up a terrific point regarding Adams Strunk’s tendencies. Having to pay multiple coaches/coordinators has been referenced in argument as to why Tennessee’s owner won’t dismiss Callahan and Carthon. Adams Strunk paid two coaches in 2016 and 2017 (Ken Whisenhunt and Mike Mularkey), and three in 2018 (Whisenhunt, Mularkey, Vrabel).
For those who think the finances of paying multiple people for the same position will factor into Amy Adams’ Strunk’s decisions, a reminder that she paid two coaches in 2016 and 2017 and three in 2018:
Ken Whisenhunt contract: 2014 through 2018
Mike Mularkey: 2016 through 2018…— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) December 23, 2024
The Titans probably won’t dismiss the Callahan-Carthon partnership after one season, but perhaps blowout defeats to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans (in the Houston Oilers throwback jerseys) would give Adams Strunk something to consider. Callahan’s answer at the podium on Monday left room for interpretation. The Titans have a lot to sort through in the offseason.