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Article by Gavin Hams

The Tennessee Titans have announced 7 completed interviews for their vacant head coaching search that is being led by Mike Borgonzi, who is entering his 2nd year as the Tennessee Titans GM. In what is possibly their most important offseason in recent memory of this franchise, they have no choice but to get this hire right. Tennessee has a young QB in Cam Ward who had a really solid rookie season especially with the hand he was dealt. The time is now to get this franchise back on track with 100 million dollars in cap space, a new stadium and fans eager for success. Mike Borgonzi is highly respected around this league and came from a very successful organization in the Kansas City Chiefs. He has seen the formula and reports say a lot of coaching candidates in this cycle really like Borgonzi. This is huge for the Titans because the GM is leading the search and their is some structure in the front office. The 7 completed interviews were announced by the Titans yesterday and those interviews consisted of Lou Anarumo, Vance Joseph, Mike McCoy, Matt Nagy, Steve Spagnuolo, Kevin Stefanski and Jason Garrett. They are also scheduled to interview Mike McCarthy, Raheem Morris, Mike McDaniel, Arthur Smith, Jeff Hafley, Robert Saleh, Jesse Minter, Chris Shula and MAYBE John Harbaugh. Their is a lot of good names in this list and the good thing is all of these men have been a head coach or a coordinator whether it was offense or defense and has had success but I would be lying if I did not say their are names that the Titans have interviewed that make me say, “Yes, I would love it if the Titans hired him.” and “Please do not hire that guy.” Lets start from top to bottom and break down if the Titans should hire or not hire these coaches.

Head Coaching interview #1: Lou Anarumo

When I hear the name Lou Anarumo, the first thing that comes to my mind in the dreaded Titans-Bengals Divisional Round playoff game because he was the Bengals Defensive Coordinator from 2019 to 2024. That is the last I am going to talk about that game because as a Titans fan, you get it. I do not expect Lou Anarumo to get hired as the next Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans, especially with the names available in this coaching cycle. That is not a knock at Lou Anarumo but he has no head coaching experience in a cycle where their is a lot of previous head coaching experience and his defenses are consistently inconsistent. If the Titans do not hire Lou Anarumo, they will have to see him twice a year again as they did this last season where he is the current Defensive Coordinator of the Indianapolis Colts. He also was requested by the New York Giants and I fully expect him to not get hired in a huge market like New York with so many big names available. I think this one is a no-brainer.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #2: Vance Joseph

Their is absolutely no doubt that Vance Joseph is one of the most respected defensive minds in not just the NFL but all of football. He has always been on the defensive side of the ball since he got into coaching. He understands defense and you can see that with how the Denver Broncos have played on that side of the ball. You remember Week 1 of this past season, which I do know how much of a dumpster fire the Titans were on offense and honestly, the Titans should have beat Denver that day but the pass rush was legit all season and led the league in sacks on the defensive side of the ball. Now Vance Joseph to me falls in the category of great coordinator, not a good head coach. Granted, he has only had one opportunity to this point at being a head coach. Vance Joseph was the head coach of the Broncos from 2017 to 2018 with a record of 11-21. It was a short lived stint that did not live up to expectations and that is exactly what I think it would be again. Besides the Titans interviewing Joseph, so had the Ravens along with requests from the Raiders, Cardinals, Falcons and Giants. It is very possible he gets another chance but I hope it is not as the next head coach of the Titans.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #3: Mike McCoy

Now this man needs no introduction to Titans fans. Mike McCoy was named Interim Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans after they fired Brian Callahan, who is someone they should not have fired in the first place. Mike McCoy had the longest interview out of all the coaching candidates because Borgonzi, Brinker and Amy Adams Strunk got to see what product was put on the field when he was running the ship. It is pretty simple, Cam Ward looked better under Mike McCoy than he did under Callahan but I also think Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow and any other elite quarterback would have looked terrible in Callahan’s offense. The Titans did improve while under McCoy, but in my opinion, he coached scared when the team had nothing to lose. Fourth downs in enemy territory and not going for it, Cam Ward being visibly and vocally frustrated with McCoy’s decision making. Yes, the Titans were better under McCoy, but they also were still a terrible football team with McCoy at the helm and have a top five pick for a reason plus McCoy has had a head set on all season even when Callahan was still here. This is an easy answer.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #4: Matt Nagy

Matt Nagy and his name have been tied to this Titans Head Coaching search pretty much from the time Brian Callahan was let go. He has ties with Mike Borgonzi from their time together in Kansas City and he does have head coaching experience with the Chicago Bears where he was named Coach of the Year in 2018 after going 12-4 and losing in the Wild Card round after the famous missed field goal that hit both crossbars again the Eagles. He was fired after going 6-11 in 2021 and finished with a 34-31 HC record with the Bears over the course of 4 seasons. He went back to the Chiefs to join Andy Reid again after being fired from Chicago. I have seen a lot of Titans fans either say they want him or they absolutely do not want him. Their has been no in between. I am on the same page of absolutely not. The Titans need a leader of men. They need someone who is a winner. A consistent winner who can right this ship fast and to me, Nagy is not the answer.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #5: Steve Spagnuolo

Steve Spagnuolo is another candidate who is a proven defensive force as a coach. He has been a long time defensive coordinator, but had very limited success as a head coach with the then St. Louis Rams, now the Los Angles Rams. He had a HC record of 10-38. Spagnuolo falls into the category of great coordinator, below average head coach. Most NFL teams would take him as a defensive coordinator but not a lot would take him as a head coach despite always getting interviewed because their is more coaches in this cycle who have had more head coaching experience and more success when they were a head coach. If this was an interview for defensive coordinator on the new staff, I would say yes, hire him, but as a head coach. Please no.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #6: Kevin Stefanski

Kevin Stefanski in his last post-game press conference as Head Coach of the Browns was almost like he knew what was coming and was at peace with it. How could he not be though with the past few years and how they have gone? He was dealt Deshaun Watson who has looked like they actually picked someone off the street in Downtown Cleveland and said, “Hey, you want to play quarterback for the Browns?” He was terrible. He inherited a terrible organization that was basically cursed. Stefanski is great. He is a two time AP Coach of the Year. He took the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs, not once, but twice in 2020 and 2023. Before he got hired as HC of the Browns, he went to the NFC Championship as the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and had Case Keenum in the MVP conversation. Case Keenum. He is a really hot name in this coaching cycle and rightfully so. I believe a lot of Titans fans would be excited to see what he could do with Cam Ward and 100+ million dollars in cap space this upcoming offseason.

HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #7: Jason Garrett

This is no disrespect to Jason Garrett, but when I read on X that the Titans were interviewing Jason Garrett, I actually contemplated throwing my phone in the river. I thought it was a joke. I truly believe this is a favor interview from Borgonzi and Co. Jason Garrett has a winning record as a head coach from 2010-2019. 85-67 in what I believe is the hardest place to win because of Jerry Jones thinking he is Vince Lombardi. It does not change the fact in what the Titans need at Head Coach. They need someone similar to Mike Vrabel. Ironic, I know. They need a leader of men, not a puppet. Jason Garrett is a puppet and is why he lasted so long in Dallas. Easy answer.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #8: Mike McCarthy

Ever since the Titans have fired Brian Callahan, Mike McCarthy has been a name tied to this team. Mike McCarthy has a history of being a leader of men as a head coach and being an offensive guru. He has developed some great quarterbacks in Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott, who all excelled with McCarthy at the helm of the team and the offense. 174 career total wins compared to 110 losses and a Super Bowl. I would love to see Mike McCarthy in Nashville and would not upset what so ever if the Titans hired him. I believe Cam Ward would thrive with Mike McCarthy as Head Coach and calling the offense. He is a proven winner as a Head Coach for two very storied franchises in big time football towns.

HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #9: Raheem Morris

Raheem Morris was someone I really liked as a defensive coordinator. I feel like that is always a common theme because he has a lot of previous head coaching experience, but with very minimal success. One of the youngest coaches ever when he got hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2009 and went 17-31 in his time there. Raheem Morris is going to have a hard time getting hired as a head coach again because it is on paper that he has success as a coordinator but struggles to win and get consistency out of his team as a head coach. Most recently, Morris was fired by the Atlanta Falcons after lasting only two seasons and going 15-18 overall. The Titans would be setting themselves backwards by hiring Morris as head coach.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #10: Mike McDaniel

Mike McDaniel is an offensive genius. I know he gets a lot of hate about how funny he is and the stuff he says, but their is no doubt he is an offensive genius. Watching Hard Knocks when it covered the Dolphins was incredible hearing his explanations of offense to his Quarterback. He comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, where he was on the 49ers coaching staff from 2017-2021. The one question about McDaniel, it is not is he a good play caller or any of that, we know he is a great football mind. How does he handle the locker room? How do grown men and players in the NFL respond to him? That was a big question while he was in Miami, despite having two playoff berths his first two years being Head Coach, their was always something going on it seemed like. The Titans need someone who demands respect and challenges them. Someone they want to go to war for and with, not someone who is their friend. I fully expect Mike McDaniel to be coaching again next season, whether it is as an offensive coordinator or a head coach. I think Mike McDaniel would have success as the head coach of the Titans and that Cam Ward would thrive in his offense. I also think McDaniel would be better his second time around as a head coach and a real quarterback.

HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #11: Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith is no stranger to Nashville and the Tennessee Titans organization. I truly believe he is a great football coach and one of the more respected coaches in the league. He started as an offensive quality control coach, and worked his way up to being an offensive coordinator for the 2019-2020. He was kept by all the coaches who got hired and fired throughout the Titans years and Mike Vrabel promoted him to offensive coordinator and in 2019-2020, the Titans had an offense that was something that us Titans fans are not used too. High scoring, top 5 in the league, versatile. It was almost like a dream. Then the Falcons hired him as head coach, he lasted from 2021-2023 and went 7-10 all 3 years there. He has been the Steelers offensive coordinator since 2024 and the Steelers have struggled on offense for the past two seasons. I would take him as an OC because I really do believe he is a good OC and play caller. Not as a head coach though.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #12: Jeff Hafley

Jeff Hafley is an interesting candidate for the Tennessee Titans. Every year, every coaching cycle, offensive and defensive coordinators names get hot to be hired as potential head coaches. Some work out and stick, some don’t and they have to go back to being a defensive coordinator. I think Jeff Hafley could work out and here is why. He has only had head coaching experience at the collegiate level at Boston College and it was average if you are looking at record, well below average at 21-26 from 2020-2023. It is interesting because he has gotten to watch and be around winners and good head coaches, especially Kyle Shanahan from 2017-2018 where Hafley was on the defensive staff under Robert Saleh. Then he had a stint at Ohio State for one year as the DC in 2019. And as referred to earlier, was hired as HC at Boston College, then Matt Lafleur came calling for Hafley to lead the Packers defense. Hafley has been around winners and two head coaches who the Tennessee Titans would take in a heartbeat. Not saying Hafley is guaranteed to be successful as a head coach, he could end up being the exact opposite and terrible. I think he has been in winning programs with the 49ers and the Packers under two top tier head coaches every single day and could bring a lot that he knows and learned to the table. It is not the prettiest pick with all the names in this cycle, but its not the ugliest name either.

HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #13: Robert Saleh

Robert Saleh is one of more the popular names on the head coaching market. He is busy right now though getting ready for the Divisional Round of the playoffs this upcoming weekend for the 49ers. I love watching Saleh coach. He is a true leader of men and you can see just hard his defensive unit plays for him. You don’t need to see a behind the scenes video of him yelling to know he brings it. You see it on the sideline. Back to how his defense plays for him. It is not just the effort, it is the results. What he has done with the 49ers defense this season is absolutely incredible. I was scrolling X, and saw where a lot Titans fans were saying Saleh HC, McDaniel OC. That would be absolutely a home run hire for the Titans if somehow, someway that happened. Saleh would be top-tier head coaching hire for the Titans in my opinion.

HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #14: Jesse Minter

Jesse Minter is without a doubt my dark horse for what could be a home run hire. He is not the prettiest name in the cycle because he has not been a Head Coach before and so many other names have. He was Michigan’s defensive coordinator on Jim Harbaughs staff when they won the National Championship and followed him when Harbaugh went to the Chargers. Minter’s defense just held the Patriots offense to 16 points this past Wild Card weekend despite the Chargers losing, he has a really impressive track record and he would be a first time Head Coach but he has a really impressive resume and could be a really exciting young head coach hire.

HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #15: Chris Shula

The Titans are making sure they are interviewing almost everyone they can it seems like and Chris Shula has 13+ years of NFL experience and has been with the Rams and Sean McVay since he got hired as Head Coach in 2017. Shula would bring a lot to the defensive side of the ball for the Titans and makes me optimistic that fi the Titans were to hire him as head coach, he would bring an offensive coordinator that is dynamic and been in McVay’s coaching tree on the Rams staff. That would be a plus for the Titans, to get a defensive minded head coach and a coordinator who has learned from McVay on the offensive side of the ball who is young and up to speed with how offense is now played at the highest level in the NFL. The only thing that scares me about not hiring an offensive mind as head coach is that offensive coordinators who have success in the NFL only last with those teams a couple of years because they get hired as head coaches fast due to success. The Titans need stability on the offensive side of the ball because that has been their biggest struggle. The same could be said about defensive coordinators as well, but in my opinion, offense is the bigger concern with stability. Shula would be a good hire, as long as it comes with stability offensively.

HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #16: Brian Daboll

Brian Daboll is a weird one for me. Their is a lot of things to like about Brian Daboll, because as I said in Shula’s summary, he is an offensive guy and would bring some stability on the offensive side of the ball. I was honestly shocked when the Giants fired him this past season because I thought him and Dart would have success as a HC/QB duo in New York and Dart seemed to like him, but in the NFL you have to make decisions and they did. He had a lot of success as OC of the Bills before he was HC of the Giants and Josh Allen thrived with Daboll as OC. I remember Daboll’s first game as the Giants HC was against the Titans in Nashville and they won after Randy Bullock missed a field goal. I think Daboll is another coaching candidate who falls in the category of home run hire as an offensive coordinator, weak ground ball hire as a head coach. He had a good year his first year as HC of the Giants, then each year after got progressively worse.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #17: Jonathan Gannon

Jonathan Gannon made a name for himself to be a head coach after his success as Defensive Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. They had a ton of success when he was the head of the defense. That is what got him hired as Head Coach of the Cardinals in 2023. It was downhill from their. The Cardinals were well below average under Gannon. Their best season was in 2024 when they went 8-9. Overall a record of 15-36 over the course of three seasons. The Titans do not need that. The Titans need to win and win now. Gannon would keep the circus headquarters in Nashville if he was to be hired as the next head coach of the Titans. I do not expect the Titans to hire him and if they do for some reason, that would be a monumental mistake. Gannon will and should be a defensive coordinator again next season but not a head coach. Keep him away from Nashville.

DO NOT HIRE

Head Coaching Interview #18: Kilff Kingsbury

Kingsbury is no doubt known as an offensive guy, and a pretty high powered offensive one at that. He made a name for himself at Texas Tech as the HC their and coaching Patrick Mahomes in college. The Cardinals hired him in 2019 and he lasted four seasons with them. They made the playoffs in 2021 and lost in the wild card round. Kingsbury got fired after the 2022 season and went USC for a year as a senior offensive analyst. Then Dan Quinn came calling to be his OC for the commanders and for Jayden Daniels. The commanders lit it up. It showed when Kingsbury has a quarterback, like the Titans have, and weapons around that quarterback, his offense is dangerous. The titans have the cap space to get him weapons. The Titans are going to have to start being dangerous offensively and stop being so one dimensional. Kingsbury would bring an offense with different looks and some versatility, and I truly think Cam Ward would excel in Kingsbury’s offense and actually become a top offense in this league. The only thing that scares me is his previous track record as head coach because offense aside, you still need to win. If he has a staff in place and it is strong enough to where Borgonzi and Co. want to take a chance then I would trust him to flip the Titans around pretty fast as Head Coach.

HIRE

Now, I was not planning on writing about John Harbaugh very much because I did not think the Titans were a real player for him, but according to Tom Pelissero, he said “Don’t count out the Tennessee Titans.” Dianna Russini also said in a post on X, “As John Harbaugh continues to gather information about his next landing spot, I’m told the Giants, Falcons, and Titans are considered the favorites to land the former Ravens head coach at this time.” The fact that the Titans are one of the top three favorite teams to land Harbaugh is huge. He is a winner. To ne, the best head coach available and would bring stability from day one and buy in from players to win because he has demanded it previously in Baltimore. It would be a home run hire for the Titans and huge for this city to get excited about Titans football again at a time where it has not been exciting recently. Harbaugh is my number one choice to be the next coach of the Titans and I would love to see him leading this team next season and in the future.

The Titans have a lot of choices and one way or another not everyone is going to be happy no matter who we hire. This might be the craziest coaching cycle in recent time and there are so many good choices that it is almost hard for the Titans to mess this up, but with that being said, it is still the Titans.