The Tennessee Titans are staring down another offseason of transition-and this time, their franchise quarterback wants a seat at the table.
After a rocky start to the season that saw Brian Callahan dismissed following a 1-5 opening stretch, the Titans handed the reins to interim coach Mike McCoy. But the change hasn’t sparked much of a turnaround.
Tennessee has gone just 1-7 under McCoy, bringing their record to a sobering 2-12. The struggles have been widespread, but the spotlight naturally falls on rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick, who’s been trying to find his footing amid the chaos.
Ward’s rookie year hasn’t offered the kind of breakout moment fans were hoping for, but it’s hard to pin that entirely on the young quarterback. The instability around him-from coaching changes to inconsistent play across the roster-has made it tough for any kind of rhythm to develop. Still, Ward is stepping into a leadership role, and he’s making it clear: he wants to be part of the solution.
“I want to meet all of them,” Ward said, referring to the candidates for the Titans’ head coaching job. “Every coach who gets the opportunity to come here, I want to have conversations throughout the process with them. I’m going to be here for that whole time.”
That’s not just lip service. Ward has already met with team president of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi to express his desire to be involved in the hiring process.
And while it’s not unheard of for a quarterback to be part of these conversations-especially franchise guys with years of experience-Ward is taking this initiative just one season into his career. That says something about how he views his role in Tennessee.
It’s also a sign that the Titans may be ready to build with Ward at the center of everything, not just on the field but in the culture of the locker room. He’s not demanding control-he’s asking for connection. After a season where that seemed to be missing, especially with Callahan, Ward wants to help ensure the next hire is someone he can grow with.
The Titans are expected to cast a wide net in their coaching search once the season wraps. There’s no shortage of candidates-back in October, a list of 20 potential names was already floating around. But while the front office will ultimately make the call, Ward’s voice in the room could help shape the future of this franchise.
For Tennessee, the upcoming hire isn’t just about finding the next coach-it’s about finding the right partner for their quarterback. Ward wants to win.
He wants to lead. And now, he wants to help choose the person who’ll help guide him there.
That kind of buy-in from your QB1? That’s something you build around.