Browns Coach Stefanski Chose Compassion over Competition to Allow Titans' Father-Son Reunion

The Browns let offensive line guru Bill Callahan out of his contract so he could work with his son, first-year Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan. Said Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski: "It's a kid's game. It also is a business. But that doesn't mean you don't treat people the right way and treat them with respect and empathy."

INDIANAPOLIS — Under normal circumstances, Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski would have been reluctant to let go of an assistant coach who had a skill for developing All-Pro linemen. But the Tennessee Titans' request transcended normal circumstances.

So Stefanski and the Browns demonstrated that there is still space for compassion in the competitive NFL.

The Browns let offensive line guru Bill Callahan out of his contract so he could work with his son, first-year Titans coach Brian Callahan.

"We all know this is business. It's a kid's game. It also is a business. But that doesn't mean you don't treat people the right way and treat them with respect and empathy," Stefanski said Wednesday at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine at the Indianapolis Convention Center. "We can still treat people how they deserve to be treated." 

Last season, the Titans' offense struggled, averaging only 18 points per game. The offensive line allowed 64 sacks. Both quarterbacks, Will Levis and Ryan Tannehill, missed games due to injuries.

Bill Callahan, long regarded as one of the NFL's best teachers of offensive line play, will be counted on to improve that piece of the Titans offense. 

Brian Callahan expressed his appreciation on Tuesday for the Browns' willingness to accommodate. 

"Nothing's easy when you're in those situations. But thankfully, I think it was such a unique situation for him and I and for the league in general," Callahan said. "It hasn't happened ever before. I'm appreciative of Cleveland's willingness to work through that with us. I'm sure, obviously, they didn't want to let him go either, and he was under contract. They didn't have to. So appreciative of them understanding and knowing the uniqueness of the situation. Nothing's easy in the NFL when you're under contract."

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