Former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan achieved his dream this week by becoming the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
It's the culmination of a lifetime spent working towards this moment, from growing up the son of an NFL coach, playing quarterback at the collegiate level, to the last five years strengthening his craft in Cincinnati.
The Bengals being the last stop on his way to the finish line was clearly special to Callahan, as evidenced by the way he spoke of the organization during his introductory press conference in Nashville.
Callahan spoke for about 40 minutes in front of Tennessee media as the new face of the franchise. Before the bulk of his presser, he made sure to recognize the team and people that gave him a chance to reach this level.
"I would like to thank the Cincinnati Bengals organization," Callahan said. "Mike Brown, probably one of the greatest men that I've ever met."
It was then that Callahan had to stop and gather himself for about 12 seconds, his eyes getting watery.
"I'll get it together in a second don't worry."
If that doesn't exemplify the culture the Bengals have built in recent years, nothing does.
Callahan has family history in the game of football, being the son of former NFL head coach Bill Callahan. He had no prior history with the Bengals, or Cincinnati for that matter, before he was hired as Zac Taylor's OC five years ago.
The family business he leaves behind, better than where he found it, has clearly left a real impact on him.
"Katie and Troy Blackburn, their daughters, Elizabeth and Caroline, and Duke Tobin and his staff," Callahan continued. "They gave me an incredible opportunity to grow and they were patient and they invested in me, and I'll forever be grateful for that."
Callahan's genuine character is what has made him a great assistant coach for over a decade. It will serve him well as the leader of an entire team.
Plenty in Cincinnati will be eager to watch it unfold. You can watch the full presser below:
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