Former Titans GM discusses futures of Brian Callahan, Will Levis after firing

The Tennessee Titans finished the 2023 season, their first with Ran Carthon serving as their general manager, at 6-11 before the 2024 edition of the club went 3-14 under first-year head coach Brian Callahan. 

While the Titans fired Carthon last week, he nevertheless thinks that those still with the organization can help right the ship beginning later this year. 

"I really truly believe in [Callahan] and what he can do as a coach, and I know he’ll be much better next year," Carthon said during a Monday appearance on sports radio station 104.5 The Zone, as shared by John Glennon of the Nashville Post. "You would have had to be there to understand how he works diligently at his job every single day, to have a plan every single week and to have a plan moving forward. So I really believe in him and wish him nothing but the best." 

It was reported last week that "the growing pains from playing second-year quarterback Will Levis last season helped lead to Carthon losing his job." Levis was benched during this past campaign, and Pro Football Reference shows that he ended Week 18 ranked 42nd in the NFL among qualified players with a 27.6 total QBR and 33rd with an 81.4 passer rating. He tossed 13 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions over what could go down as his final 12 games with the Titans. 

Tennessee holds the rights to the first pick of the 2025 draft and is expected to grab either Miami quarterback Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders. Additionally, some think the Titans could sign current New York Jets signal-caller Aaron Rodgers to a team-friendly contract to have him mentor Ward or Sanders if the Jets move on from Rodgers in March. 

It seems Levis no longer has much of a future in Tennessee, but Carthon expressed confidence that the 25-year-old can still find success working with Callahan.

"I think Will is going to be fine," Carthon insisted on Monday. "We have to understand with Will [that] I think this may have been the fourth different offense he’s had to learn in as many years. Just him having another year in the system is going to help him understand what [Callahan] wants in the system, understand what it takes to play quarterback in the system."

For what it's worth, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports and ESPN's Ben Solak are among analysts who think the Titans could trade the draft's first pick to acquire needed assets for their rebuild. Even if such a scenario plays out, it's difficult to imagine Callahan will risk his long-term job security by having Levis atop the depth chart this coming summer.