As Week 18 of the NFL season continues, several teams near the bottom of the standings are still in contention to land the top pick in the upcoming draft. The Titans are among them, but securing the No. 1 selection could include notable changes in the organization. 
Much of the season was predicated on first-time head coach Brian Callahan‘s ability to lead a rebound on offense for Tennessee. In particular, his work in developing quarterback Will Levis was a central point of focus, but things have not gone according to plan on that front.
[RELATED: Titans Secure 2025 No. 1 Overall Pick]
It remains to be seen if a new potential franchise quarterback will be targeted in the offseason as a result, but general manager Ran Carthon may not be charged with overseeing that effort. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes there is “growing chatter” about Carthon being fired after this season. Bovada’s Josina Anderson adds this situation is being monitored by many around the league regarding a potential firing.
Jon Robinson was fired near the end of the 2022 campaign, his seventh at the helm of the Titans. The team sat at 7-5 on the year at that point, and the timing therefore came as a surprise to many. Then-head coach Mike Vrabel was not included in the decision, one which allowed him carry on his role for another season. Amidst indications Carthon and Vrabel were not on the same page, though, the latter was dismissed after the 2023 campaign came to a close.
Callahan was hired to take over coaching duties while working with Carthon to oversee Tennessee’s transition to a younger roster. Several veterans on both sides of the ball saw their Titans tenures end in cost-shedding moves in recent years, leaving the new regime with a long-term rebuilding project. Still, Tennessee’s record entering Sunday’s action (9-24) under Carthon leaves plenty to be desired. Attention will thus turn to owner Amy Adams Strunk over the coming days.
Meanwhile, Callahan’s future will of course remain uncertain until he receives a vote of confidence from ownership. The former Bengals offensive coordinator was the subject of a recent report indicating he should be safe, though, and further signs point in that direction. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted on this morning’s NFL Countdown Callahan should remain in place for 2025, although that is not certain at this point (video link). Schefter cautions, however, that some in the Titans’ organization are expecting significant changes of some kind in the wake of a disappointing year.
Whether or not that includes moves in the front office or along the sidelines will be interesting to monitor in the immediate future. A number of major roster-building decisions loom this spring for the Titans, but before that the team’s coaching and management staff could see replacements brought in.
The owner needs to be fired.
Struck keeps engineering this factory of interpersonal intrigues between her high up staff, firing one of them, and then doing it again. I haven’t been terribly impressed by Carthon, mostly because of the imperfect but functional record of the prior regime, but how long is this executive relay of disappointment going to last? At some point, you have to commit, right?
Going back to Mularkey, Titans have fired the GM or coach several times while leaving one onboard to later be fired a few seasons afterward. They haven’t brought both in as a team in quite some time. The constant turnstile of instability really handicaps whatever success they could have-Strunk hasn’t been the epitome of consistency in her tenure, and as such, neither has her team.
I understand if they are good and want to flex wearing those old Oiler jerseys against Houston, but this is a poverty franchise. They stink from top to bottom. They will finish 3-14 and it is well deserved
Anyone out there still think that essentially running Vrabel out of town was the right move? He was one of the best things to happen to that franchise in years.
I think it was the right move.
This is so dumb. Nobody is patient anymore. This was a long term rebuild.
Owner seems like a real nasty woman, the Rachel Phelps of the NFL.
Wait until Aaron Rodgers gets there next year. That’ll shake up the place.
Vrabel is one of the most sought after coaches out there this year, and this guy Carthon ran him out of town, this guy needs to be fired ……idiotic decision
Carthon didn’t run him out of town, Amy Adams Strunk was the one who fired Vrabel.
Vrabel wanted Cowden hired as GM; when that didn’t happen, tension was either created or became worse between the two. She let him go because she no longer thought it could be a productive working relationship.
…..oh yea, who needs Henry, get rid of him too, he’s washed…….yea, Carthon a real good GM, lets just suck is his philosophy
I love that Steelers fans/media just assume that a run of Super Bowl victories is what waits on the other side of firing Tomlin, instead of…this.
This is a golden comment.
Callahan was asked to make chicken salad out of chicken $h!T and Carthon and Adams are doing their best Woody Johnson and J-E-T-S impression. Can’t fire the owner but Carthon should be interviewing realtors.
If you admit it’s the owner’s fault, why blame the GM?
Carthon got rid of solid players and coaches…Adams just inherited the team
Carthon didn’t get rid of Vrabel, Amy Adams Strunk did. She went over Carthon’s head and fired Vrabel after Vrabel complained that she didn’t hire his preferred choice, Cowden, as GM.
Carthon got rid of/let players walk who didn’t fit the Titans’ timeline. He deserves another season to right the ship. If there isn’t marked improvement by this time next year, sure.
The former Houston Oilers clinched the #1 pick in the Draft with their loss to the present-day Houston Texans. Luv Ya Blue!
Buddy, you always spoil these games for me while I can’t watch them.
But you are very good with the draft updates, I’ll give you that (please don’t misinterpret this, I’m not mad, it’s my stupid fault for checking this damn site before I’ve had a chance to get into NFL Plus).
I think there is a feeling that because this year went poorly that must mean Vrabel was such a great option. Its possible for Vrabel and Carthon and Callahan to all be below average. I hated the end of the Vrabel years, the loyalty to Tannehill.
Levis may be struggling in a huge way but think they should have given him more of a look last year. Do I like 6 wins so much more than 3? I dont. Vrabel seemed to know how to stop the run. I didn’t see much more in his last two years. He had some nice moments but its what have you done recently. I’m not going to give him credit for handing it off to Henry. Callahan may have had 3 more wins with Henry.
As far as Carthon I do think its best to move on. Feels like for the longest time, even before Carthon, they take OL, usually does not work well and then they do it again next year. If I could hire a new GM I would say if you plan to trade down in the 1st and get OL you cant have the job.
As far as Callahan, I can live with him staying but probably rather TN moves on. Hard to say how much its his fault that Levis kept making horrible decisions. I doubt he said throw risky passes inside our 30. And hard to have Mason Rudolph make a huge difference, regardless of how great an offensive mind you are. No A.J. Brown no Derrick Henry, an incredibly raw QB, how high can the ceiling be. The team is a little broken.
I also think these days guys admit QBs are very raw and then they still expect them to produce right away. Does not look like Will Levis can play the position well now. He probably should not start next year. But wont rule out he can be productive someday. I dont like Shadeur Sanders so hope he is not the 1 pick. But think someone else needs to start next year. Would love to see a J.J. McCarthy trade.