NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans’ coaching staff for the 2024 season will be a mix of old and new, but also one with family, friends and even former high school teammates working together for the same NFL franchise.
First-time head coach Brian Callahan — the 39-year-old former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator was hired by Tennessee three weeks ago — drives to work each morning with his father Bill, the longtime NFL coach now working with his son as the Titans’ new offensive line coach.
Meanwhile, Nick Holz is a first-time NFL offensive coordinator working for his old high school teammate — they played for traditional California and national prep power De La Salle — which is something he couldn’t imagine even a couple weeks ago.
“Absolutely not,” Holz, 39, said Wednesday. “But it’s been a lot of fun so far.”
Callahan introduced his new coordinators at a news conference the day after Tennessee announced the bulk of his first coaching staff. Just like Holz, 41-year-old Dennard Wilson is a first-time coordinator in the pros; he’ll be running an NFL defense after 12 years as an assistant in the league.
However, this staff has plenty of coaching veterans, with nobody having more experience than the head coach’s 67-year-old father. Bill and Brian Callahan are the NFL’s seventh father-and-son combination to be head coaches in this league, and the new head coach retained several assistants from the staff of predecessor Mike Vrabel, who was fired by the Titans last month after six seasons in Nashville.
“There’s something to the diversity of thought,” the younger Callahan said. “You want guys that have had different experiences in different places, have different answers, because ultimately we’re trying to do the best we can on Sundays to put the guys in the best spot so we can go win games.”
Callahan still needs to hire a special teams coordinator and a new strength coach after Frank Piraino left for the New York Giants. Callahan said he’ll leave the defense in Wilson’s control, while Holz will be putting together the weekly offensive game plan, but with his new boss calling plays on game day.
For Holz, another part of the attraction for joining the Titans is working with quarterback Will Levis, someone he saw only on video study this past season while serving as passing game coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars, one of Tennessee’s division rivals in the AFC South. Holz said he noticed the arm talent and toughness shown by Levis, who was a second-round draft pick last year and took over as the starter midway through his rookie season.
“Really the three things we’re looking for is decision making, accuracy and toughness, and you saw all that,” Holz said.
AP photo by George Walker IV / Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson, left, responds to a question as head coach Brian Callahan looks on during a news conference Wednesday in Nashville.Wilson, who wore a Houston Oilers throwback shirt, said he has admired this organization back to its time in Texas. The Oilers moved to Tennessee ahead of the 1997 season and became the Titans two years later.
He got his start in the NFL working with former Titans coach Jeff Fisher and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in 2012 with the St. Louis Rams and still talks with both. The new Titans defensive coordinator also cited Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles and his most recent boss, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, as other influences.
Wilson already has talked with two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons. The Titans have 24 pending free agents, including their 2023 sacks leader, Denico Autry, who had a career-best 11 1/2 sacks for the season and has 28 1/2 total in three years with Tennessee.
The chance to work with Titans general manager Ran Carthon also was a big draw for Wilson. Carthon was a pro scout when Wilson was a young coach. They stayed in contact, admiring how each other worked.
“It was a natural fit,” Wilson said. “And I’m happy to be here. I’m learning about the organization being here, and I’m excited to go to work.”
Other new additions to the on-field staff are Ben Bloom (outside linebackers), Bo Hardegree (quarterbacks), Tom Jones (assistant to the head coach), Randy Jordan (running backs), Payton McCollum (assistant receivers coach) and Tyke Tolbert (wide receivers).
Although multiple assistants from this past season will return, some are in new roles.
Chris Harris remains the passing game coordinator working with quarterbacks, and Anthony Levine continues as assistant for special teams. Justin Outten moves from coaching running backs to tight ends, Clinton McMillan from defensive line to assistant defensive line/pass rush specialist, and Luke Stocker from tight ends to offensive assistant.
Three former Titans assistants are back after working for other teams since their most recent stints in Tennessee: Frank Bush will coach linebackers, Steve Jackson will coach the secondary and safeties and Tracy Rocker is the defensive line coach.
Brian Bell, Haley Roberts and Tyler Rouse remain on the strength and conditioning staff.