(Nashville) The Tennessee Titans have agreed to hire Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan as head coach, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday. of the decision.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been finalized.
Callahan will replace Mike Vrabel, who was fired Jan. 9 after six seasons at the helm and losing 18 of his last 24 games.
Callahan, 39, participated in a virtual interview with Titans leaders on January 12. He had been the first of 10 candidates to speak with the team.
According to the Associated Press source, the Titans interviewed Callahan in person on Monday and decided to hire him.
The Titans declined to make any comment Monday evening.
NFL leaders did not allow face-to-face interviews with employees already working in the league before Monday.
This is the third hiring for a head coaching position in the NFL since the end of the regular season on January 7.
The New England Patriots promoted Jerod Mayo to replace Bill Belichick, and the Las Vegas Raiders confirmed Antonio Pierce in the role on an interim basis.
The Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders are still looking for a new head coach.
Callahan has 14 years of NFL experience. He has been the Bengals’ offensive coordinator since 2019, and is credited with contributing to the development of quarterback Joe Burrow.
With the Titans, he will have the opportunity to work with Will Lewis, the quarterback the team claimed at 33e rank in last April’s draft.
Callahan was working with the Bengals when they upset the AFC’s No. 1-ranked Titans in a playoff game on Jan. 22, 2022.
That season, the Bengals continued on to the Super Bowl, which they lost to the Los Angeles Rams.
He is the son of Bill Callahan, who was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and 2003.