Overview: A decision that altered Titans playcalling
The Tennessee Titans made a seismic change in their coaching approach after a Week 3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts: playcalling duties were shifted away from offensive coordinator Brian Callahan to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree. A new report from Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com suggests that the decision did not originate with Callahan himself but flowed from ownership, specifically Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk, and was relayed to the football staff by president of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi.
What the report claims
According to multiple sources cited by McCormick, Strunk, who has ultimate authority in Nashville, reportedly directed the change after the Week 3 defeat. The narrative inside the team’s meetings, the report indicates, was that the plan to shift playcalling came from ownership rather than a unilateral move by Callahan. Brinker and Borgonzi were the ones tasked with implementing the message to the coaching staff, aligning with a pattern in some franchises where ownership exerts a strong hand in football decisions.
Why this matters for the Titans’ scouting and strategy
Shifting playcalling duties mid-season is rare and risky. It fundamentally alters how an offense is called, how play charts are adjusted on the fly, and how quarterbacks read defenses. Moving these duties to Bo Hardegree, the quarterbacks coach, signaled a shift toward a more centralized or potentially more quarterback-focused approach. The Titans’ offensive identity — including tempo, play design, and in-game adjustments — would be influenced by this transition, with ramifications for how the team develops cohesion at the line and in the backfield.
Internal reaction and timing
Within the staff, there appears to be a belief that Callahan didn’t drive the change himself. The timing, coming after a loss to a divisional foe and just days before discussions about head coaching search dynamics would intensify, has fueled speculation. The decision also played out publicly in a way that hinted at ownership’s heavy hand: the club announced Callahan’s firing and then faced a delayed interim head coach announcement, a sequence that fed talk of a broader leadership struggle.
Ownership versus football operations: a recurring theme
Owner influence in football decisions is not unique to the Titans, but it becomes a talking point when a team experiences volatility. Critics argue that the most successful owners trust their football people to make football decisions, providing oversight without micromanaging day-to-day operations. Conversely, “not-best” owners are painted in headlines when ownership meddling coincides with unstable coaching tenures. In this instance, the timeline and the reported source of the directive have reignited questions about how much control Strunk exercises and how that control affects performance and morale in the locker room.
Looking ahead: what candidates should consider
For head-coaching candidates evaluating the Titans, this episode could be a red flag or a cautionary tale depending on perspective. Prospective coaches often weigh organizational stability, leadership structure, and the history of decision-making transparency. A franchise with a reputation for decisive action can be appealing, but when ownership’s role in football decisions is perceived as disruptive, it can deter veteran coaches who value autonomy and a clear chain of command. For the Titans, the question remains whether this shift will yield results on the field or simply set a new baseline of expectations for future changes.
Conclusion: the broader impact on Titans’ future
Whether the move to shift playcalling was the right call remains a topic for late-season analysis. What is clear is that ownership influence has become a central storyline in Tennessee’s ongoing coaching saga. As the Titans navigate a season defined by uncertainty and turnover, the ultimate test will be on-field performance, consistency in offensive execution, and the ability to maintain a stable environment that attracts and retains coaching talent. The coming weeks will reveal whether this controversial decision ultimately helps the Titans regain momentum or serves as a cautionary tale about ownership-driven football decisions.
