Tennessee Titans Part Ways with Coach Brian Callahan Following Criticism of Cam Ward

The Tennessee Titans have terminated head coach Brian Callahan's contract following his public criticism of quarterback Cam Ward. This decision came swiftly after the team's lackluster performance, culminating in a 20-10 defeat against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 12.

On Monday, October 13, the Titans announced Callahan's firing, marking a significant shift for the franchise as they grapple with a dismal 1-5 record this season. As of now, the team has not appointed an interim head coach to take over the reins.

Chad Brinker, the Titans' president of football operations, expressed the difficulty of the decision in a statement: “After extended conversations with our owner and general manager, we met with Brian Callahan this morning to tell him we are making a change at head coach. These decisions are never easy, and they become more difficult when they involve people of great character.” He acknowledged Callahan's contributions to the team and the community, thanking him for his service.

Brinker further elaborated on the team's direction: “While we are committed to a patient and strategic plan to build a sustainable, winning football program, we have not demonstrated sufficient growth. Our players, fans, and community deserve a football team that achieves a standard we are not currently meeting.”

Callahan's dismissal followed his remarks regarding Ward's performance after the loss to the Raiders. The Titans selected Ward as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but his recent play has raised concerns. “I am incredibly discouraged by the outcome,” Callahan stated post-game. “We felt good coming into the game. To not be able to perform well on offense and not be able to score any points and then lose the game is disappointing. And we all gotta be better; Cam’s a part of that too.”

He continued, “It’s not all just him, but he is a part of it and we’d like to be able to start seeing some more good football being played.”

The Titans' loss to the Raiders marked their fifth defeat in six games this season, with their only victory coming against the Arizona Cardinals on October 5. The team has also suffered losses to the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, and Houston Texans.

In that game against the Raiders, Ward completed 26 of 38 passes for just 22 yards and threw an interception while also losing two fumbles. “Real disappointed, just as an offense, especially myself,” Ward remarked after the game. “Any time you have three turnovers you are not going to have a chance to win the game.”

Ward acknowledged his need for improvement: “I know I can’t let it happen, but we have to keep going. At the end of the day, there’s no excuses out there for us. We just have to be better, and I have to be better.”

The Titans are set to face off against the New England Patriots on Sunday, October 19, as they look to turn their season around amidst these changes.