Titans' Brian Callahan Explains His Coaching Philosophy: Be a Great Teacher

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan, who has collaborated with such NFL quarterbacks as Joe Burrow and Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, says "all you really care about is, how well can you teach and articulate to the players what they need to do?"

NASHVILLE — Brian Callahan realized a dream on Thursday when Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk and Executive Vice President Ran Carthon introduced him as the new Titans coach.

As he thanked family and football friends, Callahan fought back tears of joy. It was a day for gratitude and honest emotions. But that was then.

The celebration has turned to work as the Titans attempt to rebuild after consecutive losing seasons. 

To establish a winning culture in Nashville, Callahan must build a strong coaching staff, refresh the roster with new talent, and develop a game plan that maximizes the team's strengths. He believes the road to winning starts with messaging. 

"My coaching style is consistent. My demeanor is pretty consistent," Callahan said. "I pride myself on being a great teacher. That's first and foremost as a coach. That's all you really care about is, how well can you teach and articulate to the players what they need to do? 

"I have a pretty laid-back demeanor most times, as you guys will see, but when it's time to make corrections and bring the energy as necessary, I can do that. But my coaching style is a teaching coaching style. We're trying to make sure that our guys know exactly what to do, how to do it, and can go execute at a really high level and as fast as humanly possible."

One of the main issues for the Titans was their sluggish offense, which ranked at the bottom of the NFL in several categories and averaged less than 20 points per game.

Callahan, who spent five seasons running a prolific offense as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, believes he can replicate that success with the Titans. 

"I think the biggest thing that we want to do to start is put the players we have in great position," Callahan said. "Let them be able to find their roles, define what those roles are for them, and put them in the matchups that we feel are to our advantage. That's a very broad, general, offensive philosophy. But that's sort of the starting point. We want to be great at detail in the passing game, route definition, and route spacing. Want to be able to complete balls at a high percentage."

Callahan is a renowned NFL quarterback coach who has received endorsements from the likes of Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, and Joe Burrow. He also has ideas that are a mix of old and new about improving the run game.

"We still want to be physical. Don't get that part twisted," Callahan said. "That's part of the Titans' identity for a long time and it will continue to be. We'll be a physical football team, and we'll be able to run the ball the way we need to win football games."

Callahan also gave some hints on how he plans to build a defense. He wants to pattern the Titans defense after those he had a hard time game-planning against in previous roles in the NFL.

"I know it gives me problems. I know the hard defenses to game-plan against, and those are the things that I'm looking for in the style of defense we're going to play. Without getting too far down a bunch of characteristics that don't mean much until we put the pads on, but that's what I look for is what makes it hard for me as an offensive coach. That's the style of defense that I'm looking for."

Related Titans Stories

• TITANS TO INTERVIEW OC CANDIDATE: New Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan is wasting no time in assembling his coaching staff. Eric Studesville, Miami Dolphins associate head coach/running back coach, is reportedly set to interview for the Titans offensive coordinator position. CLICK HERE
• CALLAHAN DEFENDS TITANS LINE: Sixty-four sacks allowed. Struggling left tackles. Mock drafts predicting a lineman as the team’s first pick. But new Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan tells critics that every offensive player has a role in pass protection. CLICK HERE
• TOM BREW COLUMN: Now that Ran Carthon basically has total control of all the big decisions with the Tennessee Titans, it's on him to get it right. His first big move, hiring Brian Callahan as his head coach, looks like a good one. This much we know: They're both ready to get to work. CLICK HERE
• CALLAHAN'S COACHING EDUCATION: Once upon a time, Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan was a backup quarterback warming the bench with the greatest high school football program ever. He never did play much, but the coaches who nurtured him say he was always a brilliant student of the game. CLICK HERE