NASHVILLE — The hiring of Brian Callahan meant the Tennessee Titans would look different this season.
Any transition from one head coach to another brings changes, of course, but when the former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator took over in January — he replaced the defensive-minded Mike Vrabel, whose six-year tenure ended with back-to-back losing seasons — it was a question of the details of those differences.
Signing cornerback Chidobe Awuzie and wide receiver Tyler Boyd filled key needs on Tennessee’s roster, but their additions came with a bonus for the Titans: a special ability to spread Callahan’s approach inside the locker room.
Add new special teams coordinator Colt Anderson and safeties coach Steve Jackson, who coached the Bengals’ cornerbacks in 2020 and 2021, and there’s an undeniable Cincinnati flavor that Callahan and the Titans hope speeds up the turnaround of an NFL franchise that has lost 18 of its past 24 games.
Callahan called Awuzie and Boyd huge assets.
“I love seeing both of them every day,” Callahan said. “It gives me some comfort. That part’s nice.”
Boyd has been in the offense Callahan helped run the past five years in Cincinnati, giving him the chance to quickly answer any questions from fellow receivers such as Treylon Burks, DeAndre Hopkins or Calvin Ridley. Meanwhile, Awuzie is being counted on to step in right away at cornerback after the Titans both of their starters at that position from last season leave as free agents.
The Titans also worked a March trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for two-time Super Bowl champion L’Jarius Sneed at cornerback, but Callahan said Awuzie, who played for the Bengals the past three seasons, is everything a coach wants in a player.
“He’s a huge addition for us on the defensive side,” Callahan said.
AP photo by George Walker IV / Tennessee Titans receiver Tyler Boyd makes a catch Wednesday in Nashville, where the team is going through offseason work under new head coach Brian Callahan.Boyd was enjoying being a free agent and trying to figure out what team might fit him best after eight NFL seasons. The Titans wanted to keep adding help for quarterback Will Levis, a second-round draft pick in 2023 who took over as the starter midway through his rookie season, and Callahan’s passing offense.
The chance to join Callahan, though, was a comfortable combination for Boyd.
“That’s my guy, and he’s a heck of a coach,” Boyd said. “I mean that’s why he’s here, you know, and just being able to fit in our schemes, which I do well. I’ve been a part of this offense for a while now … so I just felt like it was the right fit.”
Awuzie had even more connections to Tennessee’s new staff. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2017, and Ben Bloom, now the outside linebackers coach in Nashville, worked for the Texas team during the cornerback’s first three pro seasons. In addition, Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz played at Awuzie’s college alma mater, Colorado.
The cornerback called all the ties a “true blessing” with the comfort they provide.
“It’s just like everything was perfect for me,” Awuzie said. “So I’m really comfortable and excited to get after for those guys.”
The Titans are wrapping up installation of Callahan’s new offense with a mandatory minicamp next week and then the end of the offseason program.
Sneed wasn’t at Wednesday’s organized team activity that was the lone session open to reporters this week, but again there is already familiarity for Awuzie, who had heard rumors of Sneed coming to Nashville even before the Titans made the deal.
The cornerbacks use the same physical trainer in Dallas, allowing Awuzie to meet with his new teammate after the deal was finalized. Awuzie called Sneed a great addition.
“Already I could tell he’s very calm under pressure,” Awuzie said. “I can tell he’s competitive. He’s asking questions, and I know when he gets out there, the defense is going to feel it for sure.”
In roster news, the Titans signed rookie linebacker Cedric Gray, their fourth-round pick at No. 106 overall in last month’s draft, to a contract. Defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat, their second-round pick, is the only one of their seven draft selections still not signed.