Titans' Brian Callahan Gives Up Play-Calling Role, QB Coach Bo Hardegree to Take Over

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan told reporters Tuesday that he is surrendering offensive play-calling duties.

Quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree will take over as the play-caller, while Nick Holz will remain in his role as offensive coordinator despite not calling the plays.

Callahan has called the offensive plays for the Titans since arriving as head coach prior to the 2024 season, but a disappointing 0-3 start was the catalyst behind the change.

▶️  Full Colts-Titans Recap

05:42

Per Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com, Callahan downplayed the significance of the change, saying it "isn't some seismic shift in things."

Callahan added that he has "zero disappointment" in his play-calling, but is stepping back from the role in order to "be able to oversee everything," according to McCormick.

The 41-year-old Callahan enjoyed a great deal of success over his five seasons as offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, ranking seventh in scoring offense in both 2021 and 2022.

Led by quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals also went on deep playoff runs both of those seasons, reaching the Super Bowl in 2021 and AFC Championship Game in 2022.

There was hope Callahan could turn things around quickly on the offensive side in Tennessee, but he was dealt a tough hand his first year at the job.

Contending with mediocre quarterback play from Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, the Titans ranked 26 in total offense and 27th in scoring offense, and Tennessee finished with a 3-14 record.

That netted the Titans the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft, and they used it to select University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

The organization immediately committed to Ward as the starter, and he has largely struggled thus far, completing just 54.5 percent of his passes for 506 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

As a whole, the Titans are 31st in the NFL this season in total offense with 222.3 yards per game, and 28th in scoring offense with 17.0 points per game.

Callahan is turning to the 41-year-old Hardegree to help right the ship on the offensive side of the ball.

Hardegree has been an offensive assistant in the NFL since 2014, and he has some play-calling experience, as he was the Las Vegas Raiders' interim offensive coordinator in 2023 following the firing of head coach Josh McDaniels.

He called plays for rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell that season, so Hardegree is already aware of some of the challenges that come along with crafting a gameplan for a rookie signal-caller.

Fresh off a 41-20 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Titans will look to get on track Sunday when they go on the road to face the AFC South rival Houston Texans, who are also winless.