The Tennessee Titans are regrouping after a major curveball in their head coaching search. A high-profile meeting was set with John Harbaugh - so high-profile, in fact, that GM Mike Borgonzi, assistant GM Chad Brinker, and owner Amy Adams Strunk were ready to board a plane to Harbaugh’s private residence for a sit-down.
But that meeting never happened. Harbaugh pulled the plug and is now headed to the New York Giants, leaving the Titans back at square one.
That means it’s back to the drawing board - or, more accurately, back to the list of 18 coaching candidates the Titans had already been working through. Borgonzi is in the thick of first-round interviews this weekend, with plans to move into in-person second-round meetings soon after. It’s a wide search, but the early signs suggest the Titans are leaning toward experience this time around.
This weekend, the Titans are meeting in person with Mike McCarthy and Brian Daboll - two coaches who’ve seen both the highs and lows of NFL head coaching life. McCarthy, of course, brings a Super Bowl pedigree, while Daboll showed promise in his early tenure with the Giants before things cooled off. Both are known quantities, and that seems to be the theme of this search.
Mike McDaniel has already had his in-person interview, and Jonathan Gannon is scheduled to meet with the team on Sunday. Robert Saleh is also in the mix - he’ll have his first virtual interview with Tennessee on Sunday, just a day after coaching the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round. That’s a tight turnaround, but one that shows the Titans are casting a wide, serious net.
Kevin Stefanski and Matt Nagy have already been interviewed and are viewed as strong candidates to move into the final round. Stefanski has been steady in Cleveland, while Nagy, despite a rocky end in Chicago, has re-established himself as a respected offensive mind in Kansas City. According to reports, Vance Joseph also left a strong impression in his interview.
So far, all eight of those names - McCarthy, Daboll, McDaniel, Gannon, Saleh, Stefanski, Nagy, and Joseph - are former head coaches. That’s not a coincidence.
After the Brian Callahan situation unraveled, it appears the Titans are leaning toward someone who’s been through the head coaching grind before. Experience is clearly being valued, and owner Amy Adams Strunk may be wary of taking another big swing on a first-timer.
That said, the Titans haven’t ruled out going with fresh blood. They’ve requested interviews with three defensive coordinators who would be first-time head coaches: Jesse Minter (Chargers), Chris Shula (Rams), and Jeff Hafley (Packers).
Minter is one of the hottest names on the market, with eight interview requests across the league. Shula isn’t far behind with six, and Hafley has been heavily linked to the Dolphins’ vacancy.
Among that trio, Shula appears to have a real shot at advancing to Tennessee’s final round. Around the league, he’s viewed as a fast riser thanks to his work with the Rams and his steady climb through the coaching ranks. He brings the kind of pedigree and upside that teams love in a young defensive mind.
So where does that leave the Titans? In a holding pattern - but a busy one.
They're working through a deep pool of candidates, balancing the appeal of proven experience with the upside of emerging talent. After missing out on Harbaugh and stumbling with Callahan, this next hire is crucial.
The Titans don’t just need the right coach - they need the right direction. And with interviews heating up, that decision is coming soon.