Tennessee Titans make bold sacking move after crushing defeat to Las Vegas

Tennessee Titans made a dramatic shake-up in the wake of their 20-10 defeat to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6, announcing the firing of head coach Brian Callahan on Monday. While the loss itself wasn’t a blowout, it proved to be the final straw for a franchise desperate to turn around a disappointing start to the season.

Tennessee Titans’ struggles continue under Callahan

Callahan’s dismissal was widely anticipated. The Titans ended last season as the worst team in the NFL, prompting a front-office rebuild led by new general manager Mike Borgonzi. However, Borgonzi didn’t have the opportunity to hire Callahan himself, meaning the coach’s tenure was always under scrutiny.

At 1-5, Tennessee’s struggles persisted under Callahan, and the defeat to a struggling Raiders team seemed to confirm that a change was necessary. The move reflects the Tennessee Titans’ urgency to reverse a downward spiral before the season slips further out of reach.

Callahan’s NFL background

Brian Callahan’s hiring was met with curiosity last year. He previously served as the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive coordinator, but notably did not call plays, raising questions about his readiness to take over a head coaching role.

Interestingly, Callahan also has historical ties to Las Vegas, having worked as the Raiders’ quarterbacks coach in 2018. The irony of being let go after a loss to a former team isn’t lost, though many analysts argue that the Raiders game simply hastened an inevitable decision rather than causing it.

Practice woes and locker room sentiment

While Brian Callahan couldn’t control every in-game moment, concerns about preparation appeared to play a major role. Star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was candid after the Raiders loss:

“In this league, you have to learn how to stack wins. To be able to carry that momentum over — it started at practice. If I’m being honest, this was one of our worst weeks of practice. Came out flat Thursday and things like that — sometimes things carry over. In this league, you have to prove it every week and reprove it.”

Simmons’ comments highlighted the team’s perceived lack of preparation and focus, suggesting that Callahan was losing control of the locker room. In professional football, practice performance often sets the tone for games, and it appears the Tennessee Titans’ leadership deemed Callahan unable to provide the necessary structure.