The Tennessee Titans are actively searching for a new head coach following the dismissal of Brian Callahan this past October. This change comes as rookie quarterback Cam Ward navigates the early stages of his professional career. In a recent press conference, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi outlined the key qualities he seeks in a candidate to lead the team.
Borgonzi emphasized the importance of leadership and accountability within the organization. “It has a lot to do with leadership,” he stated, as reported by Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean. “It”s having a clear vision. It”s having standards for what you do. And then having that person not be afraid of conflict in a negative way. Being able to hold people accountable is the biggest thing. Throughout the whole building. Staff. Players. How do you do that?”
As the search progresses, several names have emerged as potential candidates for the head coaching position. Among them are Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, and former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
The Titans are also expected to interview interim head coach Mike McCoy, although his chances of securing the full-time role remain uncertain. Additionally, the interest level of former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in working with Ward has yet to be established, with some speculating about his potential link to the New York Giants.
Before joining the Titans, Borgonzi spent over a decade with the Chiefs, holding various roles from 2009 through the 2024 season. He assured fans that he would not allow personal biases or relationships from his time in Kansas City to influence his hiring decision. Borgonzi hinted at a preference for candidates with prior head coaching experience, stating, “There”s nothing like sitting in that chair for the first time. There”s so much more responsibility in being the head coach than being a coordinator or calling plays.”
He added, “It”s hard really to tell until they”ve been in that chair, but you can do a lot of research and work in terms of how do they present themselves, how do they hold their players accountable, how do they hold their staff accountable to take the next step to be the head coach.”
As the Titans move forward in their search, it appears that they are committed to finding a coach who can maximize Ward”s potential and foster a cohesive team environment. With the hiring process expected to unfold in the coming weeks, candidates with offensive expertise and prior head coaching experience, like Stefanski and Kingsbury, are likely to be prioritized by the organization.
