Two Frontrunners Emerging For Tennessee Titans Job Saturday

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Jan 10, 2026 11:16 AM ET

The head-coaching search for the Tennessee Titans might just come down to a pair of coaches who were recently fired.

Tennessee became the first team this season with a head-coaching vacancy, firing Brian Callahan after an underwhelming 1-5 start. Once the offseason officially started for the Titans, general manager Mike Borgonzi requested interviews with Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

Some fans in Tennessee are worried Borgonzi will hire Spagnuolo or Nagy due to his familiar with Kansas City. He was the assistant general manager for the Chiefs before leaving for the Titans in 2025.

"You have to remove that piece," Borgonzi said. "That biased opinion on anybody that you might have a relationship with. You have to make the best decision for the organization, and that's really the bottom line. 'Who is going to be the best leader and coach for this organization?'"

Judging by the Titans' latest moves, it sounds like Borgonzi has removed any Chiefs bias from his search for a new head coach.

Dec 28, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski looks on in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images© Ken Blaze-Imagn Images.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Titans have scheduled interviews with these two former head coaches:

Mike McDaniel
Kevin Stefanski

McDaniel was fired by the Miami Dolphins earlier this week. He went 35-33 in four seasons and reached the playoffs twice. According to Pelissero, NFL teams have "significant interest" in him this hiring cycle.

Stefanski, on the other hand, was let go by the Browns less than 24 hours after their Week 18 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. The two-time Coach of the Year is expected to land a prominent job this offseason.

Are first-year coaches an option for the Titans?

Even though McDaniel and Stefanski are considered the top two options for Tennessee, the front office has requested interviews with Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula.

At the end of the day, the Titans have to find a coach who can maximize Cam Ward's potential. The rookie quarterback had 3,169 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions during the 2025 season.

If Ward gets paired with McDaniel or Stefanski, that would definitely give Titans fans a reason to be optimistic.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: