CLEVELAND — There are about to be two Callahans with the Tennessee Titans.
Offensive line coach Bill Callahan is leaving the Cleveland Browns to join his son Brian’s staff with the Titans, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Thursday night.
Callahan has informed the Browns that he’s taking the job, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the teams are not commenting during the interview process. He had been on coach Kevin Stefanski’s staff in Cleveland since 2020.
Brian Callahan became an NFL head coach for the first time when he was hired last week by the Titans, who fired Mike Vrabel on Jan. 9 after consecutive losing seasons. The younger Callahan, 39, had been the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals since 2019.
At his introductory news conference, Brian Callahan was emotional when talking about his dad.
“I don’t know how many fathers and sons have been head coaches in the NFL, I don’t think it’s many,” he said. “I think that’s a very prideful thing for him to be associated with, him and I. You live this lifestyle, and there’s a lot of ups and downs and there’s a lot of adversity that comes your way in coaching.
“Just the fact that I’ve been able to stand up here, and he’s been able to do the same thing, for me that’s a huge honor. Obviously, you want to be like your dad, you know?”
Bill Callahan has a reputation as one of the NFL’s best offensive line coaches. The 67-year-old was previously a head coach in Oakland and Washington.
He did some of his best work this season with the Browns, who were ravaged by injuries on their offensive line.
After the team lost starting right tackle Jack Conklin to a season-ending knee injury in the opener, Callahan helped rookie Dawand Jones develop quickly, and the fourth-round draft pick from Ohio State played well in 11 games before his own knee injury.
Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. also went down with a knee injury, and the Browns played down the stretch — and in the playoffs — with backups at both tackle spots.
Last week, Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio praised Callahan, who has been with the Browns since 2020, while knowing it was probably inevitable he wouldn’t be back.
“Coach Callahan has been instrumental for us,” Bitonio said. “He’s helped develop a bunch of us on the line. We’re thankful for that. He’s one of the hardest workers I know. He puts in the time with us, and he’s a big part of the run game and the scheme and protections.
“But when your son gets hired as the head coach and if your son calls, you might need to take that phone call as well. That’s pretty special stuff.”
Callahan’s departure is a major loss for the Browns and Stefanski, who shook up his staff after an 11-6 regular season and a 45-14 loss to the Houston Texans in the opening round of the playoffs.
Stefanski fired offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, running backs coach Stump Mitchell and tight ends coach T.C. McCartney. He has hired Ken Dorsey, Duce Staley and Tommy Rees for those respective positions, but the Browns have not yet announced the additions. Stefanski also hired former Houston assistant Jacques Cesaire as his defensive line coach.