There are indications in the report that Callahan is considering retaining Shane Bowen as the Titans’ Defensive Coordinator.
Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan is considering retaining defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, aiming for a defensive strategy that has proven challenging for him as an offensive coordinator. According to reports, the Titans plan to keep Bowen in-house while exploring other candidates, with Dennard Wilson, the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens, being the only other known contender for the defensive coordinator position.
Under Bowen’s leadership, the Titans’ defense ranked 18th in the NFL for total defense (335.1 yards/game), 13th against the run (107.7 yards/game), 18th against the pass (227.4 yards/game), and last in interception percentage. Despite these average statistics, the defense excelled in specific situations, securing the top spot in red zone defense (37.7 percent) and goal-to-go defense (42.86 percent).
Callahan, who previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Bengals, faced Bowen’s defenses three times since 2021. In those matchups, the potent Bengals offense struggled, averaging only 14 points per game, with a notable 27-3 defeat last season. During his introductory press conference, Callahan hinted at his preference for defenses that pose challenges for offensive game-planning, indicating why he might choose to retain Bowen.
“I know the hard defenses to game-plan against, and those are the things that I’m looking for in the style of defense we’re going to play,” Callahan stated. “Without getting too far down a bunch of characteristics that don’t mean much until we put the pads on… that’s what I look for is what makes it hard for me as an offensive coach. That’s the style of defense that I’m looking for.”
