Titans hire Bengals’ Callahan as head coach
By The Associated Press
The Tennessee Titans have agreed to hire Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as their head coach.
Callahan, 39, replaces Mike Vrabel, who was fired on Jan. 9 after six seasons and losing 18 of his final 24 games.
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 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.
Looking to fill their offensive coordintor opening, the Raiders have scheduled interviews with two former offensive coordinators, Luke Getsy and Alex Van Pelt, and Cincinnati Bengals quarterbacks coach Dan Pitcher.
Getsy, 39, was the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator the past two seasons before he was fired and replaced by Seattle Seahawks OC Shane Waldron. The Bears ranked in the top two in rushing offense each of the past two seasons, but they were 27th in passing this season and last the year before.
Getsy coached quarterback Justin Fields, who could be a trade candidate given Chicago owns the top pick in this year’s draft and could be
RAIDERS STAFFING UPDATE >>
NFL PLAYOFFS
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Saturday’s results
AFC:
NFC:
Sunday’s results
NFC:
AFC:
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS Sunday
AFC:
NFC: targeting USC QB Caleb Williams. The Raiders are expected to be in the market for a new quarterback be it through trade, free agency or the draft.
Van Pelt, 53, was the Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator the past three seasons and previously was the quarterbacks coach for the Bengals and Packers.
Van Pelt coached under Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati. Lewis was an advisor for Antonio Pierce, who was the Raiders interim coach this season before getting the job full time on Friday. NFL Network reported Lewis is expected to join the staff. Pierce and Lewis also worked together at Arizona State from 2020-22.
Pitcher, 37, has been with the Bengals since 2016 and their quarterbacks coach since 2020.
Detroit has brought in three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz in advance of Sunday’s NFC Championship game against San Francisco.
Ertz asked for his release from Arizona earlier this season and provides veteran depth to the Lions’ depleted tight end room behind rookie Sam La Porta. Brock Wright was knocked out of Sunday’s win over Tampa Bay with a forearm injury. That came a week after James Mitchell went on injured reserve. Only Anthony Firkser
LIONS ADD VETERAN ERTZ >>
remained on the depth chart.
VINOVICH WILL REFEREE SUPER BOWL >>
Veteran referee Bill Vinovich will lead the officiating crew for the Super Bowl next month in Las Vegas. The NFL announced Tuesday that Vinovich will work his third Super Bowl and be joined by a crew that includes umpire Terry Killens, down judge Patrick Holt, line judge Mark Perlman, field judge Tom Hill, side judge Allen Baynes, back judge Brad Freeman and replay official Mike Chase.
Killens will become the first person to both play in and officiate a Super Bowl. Killens made one tackle on special teams for the Tennessee Titans against the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV on Jan. 30, 2000.
PANTHERS PROMOTE DAN MORGAN >>
The Carolina Panthers promoted Dan Morgan to president of football operations and general manager, handing the task of turning around the struggling franchise to a former star linebacker with the team.
Morgan, who has spent the past three seasons as the Panthers’ assistant GM, will oversee the personnel operation, the team announced.
■ Vice president of football administration Samir Suleiman is no longer with the Panthers, meaning Carolina will be looking for someone to manage the salary cap and contract negotiations moving forward.
The Eagles fired offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, a person familiar with the decision told The AP. Johnson joins ousted defensive coordinator Sean Desai as coach Nick Sirianni continues to reshape his staff following a season-ending collapse. The Eagles went from starting 10-1 to finishing 11-6 and losing 32-9 to Tampa Bay in the wild-card round .... The Browns are close to hiring Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to coach the team’s tight ends. Rees would replace T.C. Mccartney, who was not retained last week in a postseason shakeup by head coach Kevin Stefanski.
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