The Tennessee Titans have stumbled out of the gate this season, and the pressure is already mounting on head coach Brian Callahan.
After dropping their first three games against the Colts, Rams, and Broncos, the frustration in Nashville is loud and clear.
Fans have been booing, chants of “Fire Callahan” have echoed through the stadium, and now the coach has made a major change—he’s handing over play-calling duties to his quarterbacks coach, Bo Hardegree.
Pressure Boils Over in Nashville
Sunday’s 41-20 home loss to the Indianapolis Colts didn’t just sting on the scoreboard—it put Callahan’s job firmly in the spotlight.
Even during a halftime ceremony that featured controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk, boos rained down from the stands.
The Titans are now 0-3 with No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward under center, and the frustration is only growing.
Callahan’s Response to Job Security
When asked if he was worried about being fired, Callahan brushed it off.
He insisted his only focus is getting the Titans back on track and putting the team in the best position possible.
“The rest of that stuff is what it is,” he said, adding that worrying about his job won’t help anyone.
Instead, he’s determined to keep working as hard as he can to turn things around.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Unfortunately for Callahan, the record book isn’t on his side.
Since being hired in January 2024, he’s gone just 3-17, with nine straight losses stretching back to last season.
That’s the kind of skid that quickly puts a coach’s future in jeopardy, especially with fans already restless.
Another Costly Decision Before Halftime
One moment from Sunday’s game highlighted the struggles even more.
With three minutes left in the first half, Tennessee drove to the Colts’ 39-yard line, down 17-6.
The Titans had timeouts and momentum, but indecision set in. Cam Ward wanted to go for it on fourth-and-1, but instead the field goal unit trotted out.
Chaos followed—a delay of game penalty pushed them back, and kicker Joey Slye’s 62-yard attempt was blocked.
The Colts quickly turned that mistake into points, kicking their own field goal for a 20-6 halftime lead.
Callahan admitted afterward that he went back and forth on whether to gamble for the first down or play it safe.
In the end, the poor execution made it look even worse. “Obviously looks really bad at the end of the day,” he admitted.
Fans Growing Louder
As the Titans walked off the field at halftime, the boos intensified.
Postgame, Callahan spent extra time addressing his team in the locker room, perhaps knowing how fragile things have become.
The optics are ugly, and patience is running thin.
The Road Ahead
If there’s one silver lining, it’s that the Titans won’t hear home boos for a little while.
Their next three games are on the road. But that stretch could define Callahan’s future—if they go winless, he would tie Ken Whisenhunt’s infamous 3-20 mark that got him fired back in 2015.
Even worse, Tennessee’s next home game on October 19 is against New England, led by Mike Vrabel—the very coach Strunk fired before handing the job to Callahan.
That game could be a brutal reminder of what the Titans gave up—and what they currently face.
What’s Next?
Brian Callahan’s decision to step back from play-calling is a desperate attempt to right the ship.
But unless the Titans start winning, it may not be enough.
The next few weeks on the road could decide not just the team’s season, but Callahan’s future in Nashville.