AP source: Titans to hire Callahan as next head coach
Samuel’s status still unclear for 49ers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans have agreed to hire Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their head coach, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hadn’t been finalized.
Callahan replaces Mike Vrabel, who was fired on Jan. 9 after six seasons and losing 18 of his final 24 games.
The 39-year-old Callahan had a virtual interview with Tennessee on Jan. 12, the first of 10 candidates to speak to the team. The Titans interviewed Callahan in person on Monday and decided to hire him, the person said.
The Titans declined to comment Monday night.
The NFL had not allowed in-person interviews of current league employees until Monday, the day after the divisional playoff round.
Callahan becomes the third coach hired since the season ended Jan. 7. New England promoted Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick, and the Raiders elevated their interim coach, Antonio Pierce. Carolina, the Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta, Seattle and Washington are still looking for coaches.
Callahan has 14 years of NFL experience. He has been the Bengals’ offensive coordinator since 2019 and is credited with aiding in the development of quarterback Joe Burrow. He will get the chance now to work with Will Levis, the quarterback Tennessee took at No. 33 overall last April.
The Titans also have the seventh overall draft pick and currently have the thirdmost salary cap space in the NFL. They believe they have their quarterback after Levis went 3-6 as a rookie. The 33rd pick overall out of Kentucky took over at the end of October after veteran Ryan Tannehill sprained his right ankle.
Callahan was with the Bengals when they stunned the Titans, who were the AFC’s top seed, in the divisional round of the playoffs on Jan. 22, 2022. Cincinnati went on to reach the Super Bowl, where it lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
The son of former Raiders coach Bill Callahan has been a popular target in head coaching searches. He interviewed with several teams last year before opting to stay in Cincinnati. Callahan also interviewed recently with the Chargers for their coaching vacancy.
49ERS: The Niners received good news regarding the injured left shoulder of wide receiver Deebo Samuel, but coach Kyle Shanahan still isn’t sure if he’ll be good to go for the NFC Championship Game Sunday against the Detroit Lions.
“It wasn’t broken, so that was a real good sign,” Shanahan told local reporters in a conference call Monday. “It’s still hurting too much for us to know how it’s going to heal up this week so we’ve just got to be patient, see how he feels on Wednesday and based on how it’s improving it will give us an idea whether he has a chance for the game or not.”
Samuel played nine snaps against Green Bay before departing.
LIONS: When Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta suffered a knee injury in the season finale, the team opted not to add depth at the position. But following a season-ending practice injury suffered by James Mitchell, followed by Brock Wright breaking his forearm in Sunday’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team was left with no choice but to seek reinforcements.
The team has found them in former three-time Pro Bowler Zach Ertz, who will initially sign with the team’s practice squad. The news was first reported by the NFL Network. A team source familiar with the negotiations confirmed the agreement to the Detroit News.
Ertz, who reached a mutual agreement to be let out his contract with the Arizona Cardinals in late November, will reunite with former position coach Steve Heiden in Detroit. Working together last season, the then-32-yearold Ertz tallied 47 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games.
EAGLES: Philadelphia seems set to run it back with Nick Sirianni.
Sirianni is scheduled to address the media Wednesday at an end-of-season press conference, indicating the embattled head coach will return for the 2024 season.
He’ll be joined at the press conference by general manager Howie Roseman, according to the Eagles, who say the duo will “preview what’s in store for the offseason.”
Monday’s announcement follows a week of speculation about Sirianni’s future after his Eagles lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 32-9, in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
After beginning the season 10-1, Philadelphia dropped five of its final six regular-season games, including to the lowly Cardinals and Giants in Weeks 17 and 18, and relinquished the NFC’s No. 1 seed and their lead atop the NFC East.
CHARGERS: The Los Angeles Chargers are expected to meet with Jim Harbaugh a second time regarding their head coaching position, according to someone familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.
The Michigan coach is one of 15 candidates identified during the team’s first round of interviews.
The Chargers also are searching for a general manager and have met with eight prospects for that role. Brandon Staley was fired as coach and Tom Telesco as general manager Dec. 15.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville hired Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen for the same position Monday, tasking him with revamping a unit that was one of the worst in the league late in the season.
The 44-year-old Nielsen takes over for Mike Caldwell, who was fired along with seven defensive assistants a day after the Jaguars (9-8) ended the season by losing five of six and missing the playoffs.