The journey of Brian Callahan in the NFL is a compelling story of pedigree, patience, and the intense pressures of professional football. As the son of a renowned coach, Callahan carved his own path through the league, earning respect as a sharp offensive mind and a skilled teacher of quarterbacks. His football IQ and work with some of the game’s best players eventually led him to the top job with the Tennessee Titans, a role that promised a new era but ended abruptly, closing a significant chapter in his coaching story.
Callahan’s path to coaching began after his playing days as a quarterback at UCLA, where he served as a holder and earned degrees in sociology and education. He started his coaching career right where he played, joining the UCLA Bruins as a graduate assistant in 2006. After a stint as an offensive coordinator at Junípero Serra High School in California, he made the leap to the NFL in 2010 with the Denver Broncos.
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Brian Callahan’s Methodical Rise Through the NFL Ranks
Callahan’s time with the Denver Broncos from 2010 to 2015 was a foundational period. He joined the team as a coaching assistant and steadily climbed the ranks to offensive quality control coach and then offensive assistant. This tenure culminated in a career highlight when the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers, giving Callahan an early taste of the league’s ultimate success.
His reputation as a quarterback expert began to solidify with his next moves. In 2016, he was hired as the quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions, working with Matthew Stafford. He then held the same position with the Oakland Raiders in 2018, guiding Derek Carr. This set the stage for his biggest opportunity yet: in 2019, he was hired as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals.
While head coach Zac Taylor called the plays, Callahan was a key architect of the offense that helped transform Joe Burrow into a superstar. The Bengals’ offense became one of the most potent in the league, a journey that took them to Super Bowl LVI, where they narrowly lost to the Los Angeles Rams. This success made Callahan a hot name in the head coaching market.
Titans part ways with HC Brian Callahan. pic.twitter.com/KTIZacl3Xn
— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2025
In January 2024, the Tennessee Titans hired Callahan as their head coach. He was brought in to modernize the offense and, most importantly, develop a young quarterback. He described his philosophy simply, stating, “I pride myself on being a great teacher. That’s first and foremost as a coach.” The dream job, however, proved challenging. The Titans finished his first season with a 3-14 record, and despite drafting quarterback Cam Ward with the first overall pick in 2025, the team struggled mightily, starting the season 1-5.
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Frustrations mounted as the offense consistently ranked near the bottom of the league, averaging only 13.8 points per game in 2025. After a 20-10 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, the Titans decided to make a change, firing Callahan on October 13, 2025. His final record with the Titans was 4-19. The team’s senior offensive assistant, Mike McCoy, a former Chargers head coach, was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Brian Callahan’s coaching history is a detailed ledger of a well-traveled football mind. It’s a career that features a Super Bowl win as an assistant, another Super Bowl appearance as a coordinator, and the invaluable, though difficult, experience of being an NFL head coach. His journey through the league is sure to inform his next step in the world of football.
