With a fresh start for the 2024 season, a new head coach is making things tough for his father.
When the Tennessee Titans hired Brian Callahan, they also managed to bring his father, Bill, over from another AFC team. However, the process wasn’t as smooth as one might expect between a son and his father (via The Adam Schefter Podcast):
“You gotta negotiate. Business is business, and he [Bill Callahan] said, ‘If I’m gonna do this, here’s what I need: X, Y, and Z.’ There was no family discount, if anybody’s wondering.”
Now, as father and son prepare to work together for the first time in Nashville, they will need to rely on their familial chemistry. But the real question is, how will they mesh professionally? Let’s take a closer look at the Callahans.
Brian Callahan States ‘No Family Discount’ in Hiring His Dad Bill
Two Former Divisional Rivals Now Serve as Head and Assistant Coaches in Tennessee
So, why were they divisional rivals? It’s pretty straightforward. Bill Callahan served as the offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns in the AFC North from 2020 to 2023. He was highly regarded during his tenure there.
Before joining the Browns, Bill had a lengthy NFL career that began in 1995. He was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 2002 to 2003, leading them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2002. He also served as the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys from 2012 to 2014 and briefly as the interim head coach for the Washington Commanders in 2019, after working as the assistant head coach for the franchise from 2017 to 2019.
Meanwhile, Brian, his son, served as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, in-state and divisional rivals of the Browns, from 2019 until last season. Prior to that, he held various roles with the Denver Broncos from 2010 to 2015 before serving as quarterback coach for the Detroit Lions from 2016 to 2017 and the Raiders in 2018.
Key Stat: Brian and Bill Callahan are part of a select group of seven father-son pairs who have both served as non-interim head coaches. All seven pairs have also worked together on the same staff for at least one season. The other six pairs are Bum and Wade Phillips, the Jim Moras, Don and Dave Shula, Dick and Mike Nolan, Buddy and Rex Ryan, and Mike and Kyle Shanahan.
However, the Bengals faced offensive struggles during the 2023 season due to inconsistent quarterback play and injuries, despite having a roster that could be considered top-tier in the NFL.
| Bengals Disappointing Offense in 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Bengals Stat | NFL Rank |
| 1,537 rushing yards | 31st |
| 383 rushing attempts | 30th |
| 37.6% 3rd down conversion rate | 20th |
| 45% 4th down conversion rate | 25th |
Those statistics listed are unlikely to bring joy to the front office or the fanbase of any team. However, the offensive struggles can mostly be attributed to Joe Burrow’s frequent injuries throughout the season, rather than suggesting Callahan has lost his touch as an offensive coordinator.
While the Bengals would have preferred to keep Callahan, he was ready for a new challenge after five years as an OC. Now, at 39 years old, he’s poised to fill the void left by Mike Vrabel, who was fired by the Titans on January 9th. Offensive players have expressed their excitement to work with him.
Known as a quarterback whisperer during his time in Cincinnati, Brian Callahan now has the opportunity to develop the young but promising quarterback, second-year pro Will Levis. With his father Bill, renowned for developing top-notch offensive lines, by his side, a significant turnaround could be on the horizon in the Music City.
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