Titans HC explains big change ahead of Texans game

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan acknowledged on Monday that he could relinquish his offensive play-calling duties after his club suffered a 41-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts this past Sunday that dropped the Titans to 0-3 on the season. 

On Tuesday, Callahan confirmed that quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree will now serve as Tennessee's play-caller for this coming Sunday's matchup at the 0-3 Houston Texans. Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean previously mentioned that Hardegree called plays when he was the Las Vegas Raiders' interim offensive coordinator during the 2023 campaign. 

Jim Wyatt of the Titans' website shared that Nick Holz will remain the team's offensive coordinator "and will continue to work alongside Callahan and Hardegree." 

Why Brian Callahan gave up play-calling duties

"It's a pretty easy thing to do when trying to help the football team win," Callahan explained about his decision, per Turron Davenport of ESPN. "They hired me to be the head coach -- and part of that process was being involved in the offense -- but my job is to be the head coach of the football team, and I think that this [change] allows me to do that job a little bit better, pay more attention to some things that might require my attention and be more present."

Callahan was the subject of numerous hot-seat rumors even before his overall record as Titans head coach fell to 3-17. Pockets of angry Tennessee fans chanted "fire Callahan" during the Week 3 blowout loss to the Colts, and Indianapolis wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said after the game that he and his teammates felt some Titans players didn't "want to play." 

Will Brian Callahan move help save his job?

"We're 0-3," Callahan added during his comments. "We're trying to get better." 

Needless to say, Callahan seems to understand he could find himself out of a job if his offense doesn't improve sooner rather than later. According to ESPN stats, the Titans ended Week 3 of the season ranked 31st in the league with an average of 222.3 offensive yards gained per game. 

"I've had zero disappointment in my play-calling," Callahan insisted on Tuesday, per Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports. "I don't have any disappointment in that at all. But it's just more so I can see the rest of it -- see the big picture better."

Shortly after Callahan confirmed the change, ESPN BET had the winless Titans as 6.5-point road underdogs against the Texans.