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Ex-Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan, who developed Joe Burrow, interviewed for the New York Giants QB coach job, after not getting their OC gig.
The New York Giants keep raiding Nashville and the Tennessee Titans. NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reported Tuesday that the Giants are interviewing former Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan for their vacant quarterbacks coach position under John Harbaugh. If hired, Callahan would become the second former Titans’ coach to land on Harbaugh’s staff this offseason, joining defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, who was a Titans head coach finalist last month.
Ex-Titans Head Coach Brian Callahan Interviews with New York Giants Again
Callahan’s resume as a quarterback developer reads like an NFL coaching fantasy. He spent six seasons with the Denver Broncos from 2010 to 2015, working alongside Peyton Manning during a stretch that included Manning’s 2013 MVP season and the Broncos’ Super Bowl 50 championship in 2015.
From there, Callahan coached Matthew Stafford with the Detroit Lions in 2016 and 2017, then moved to Oakland to work with Derek Carr.
The Cincinnati years elevated Callahan’s profile even further. As the Bengals‘ offensive coordinator from 2019 through 2023, Callahan played a central role in Joe Burrow’s development — helping guide Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI after the 2021 season and the AFC Championship Game the following year.
Zac Taylor called the plays during that stretch, but Callahan’s fingerprints were all over the offensive design and Burrow’s growth into one of the league’s elite quarterbacks.
Head Coaching Tenure Didn’t Match Callahan’s Development Resume
The jump to head coach and play-caller in Tennessee exposed a different set of challenges. Callahan went 3-14 in 2024 while shuffling between Will Levis and Mason Rudolph at quarterback. Levis started 12 games and threw 12 touchdowns against 12 interceptions. Rudolph started five and went 2-5. Neither quarterback took a step forward under Callahan’s play-calling.
The 2025 season with No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward started even worse. Tennessee’s offense ranked dead last in yards per game through six weeks, and Callahan surrendered play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree after a Week 3 blowout loss to Indianapolis. The Titans fired Callahan in October after a 1-5 start, giving him a 4-19 record as head coach across less than two full seasons.
The development track record with Manning, Stafford, Carr, and Burrow still carries weight around the league. The head coaching and play-calling results don’t erase what Callahan accomplished in a supporting role.
Giants Quietly Assembling a Former Titans Coaching Staff
The Callahan interview adds another layer to an emerging pattern in East Rutherford. Nagy, who was a finalist for the Titans’ head coaching job, signed on as Harbaugh’s offensive coordinator on Feb. 3. Wilson, Tennessee’s defensive coordinator the past two seasons, was hired as the Giants’ DC in late January.
ESPN’s Jordan Raanan noted on X that Monday’s interview is actually Callahan’s second with the Giants — the organization previously interviewed him for the offensive coordinator role before ultimately hiring Nagy. The 41-year-old would step into a critical position for a franchise prioritizing the development of second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart.
With the NFL offseason here, the Giants are likely to decide on the position soon.
Justin Carlucci brings 13+ years of journalism experience to Heavy. A veteran of multiple industry-leading companies, he has hosted SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio shows and contributed to the New York Post, combining traditional sports and news reporting with expertise in sports betting and fantasy sports. More about Justin Carlucci
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