NASHVILLE – Titans head coach Brian Callahan talked to reporters on Monday, one day after the team's loss to the Texans in the season finale.
The Titans finished the season with a 3-14 record.
On Monday, players cleaned out their locker and went their separate ways.
Here's a look at what Callahan said in his 30-minute presser with reporters:
-Callahan called the season a disappointment, and even an embarrassment.
"We are all prideful, we are all competitors," Callahan said. "I'm incredibly prideful – I've won a lot of football games on teams in this league, and I've lost plenty, too. But this is a season … I know I'm a good football coach, and I know that I am going to be a good head coach. But this this certainly not the result I anticipated. And I am going to have to do a much better job.
"It is embarrassing. I do not like standing up here talking about having the first pick in the draft. I don't like it. I don't like the fact that we won three games. It's not the standard that I set for myself. … It does motivate me. No professional that likes to compete likes to be embarrassed, and there's feelings of that when you only win three games, and I am determined to not let that happen again."
Callahan vowed to work to do better as a head coach, a play-caller, and an offensive coach.
"Ultimately I have to do a better job as a head coach, so we are not in this situation again at any point," Callahan said. "I don't have any interest in repeating this season. I don't want to be in this position again, and I am fully determined and resolved to get us to a point where we don't have to talk about how many games we've lost, we can talk about how many games we've won."
-Callahan gave no indication he plans to give up play-calling duties.
Nick Holz served as offensive coordinator for the Titans in 2024, but it was Callahan who called plays.
"I'm humble enough and open enough that if that were the change that needed to be made, I would make it," he said. "But right now I feel good about that process, and I feel good about calling plays on game day. … As of right now, I continue to anticipate seeing myself calling plays."
-Callahan was asked about the potential for changes on his coaching staff.
"We are working through that this week," he said. "I'll be meeting with the coaches over the next couple of days. … If we plan on making any changes, it will be as the week goes along."
-Callahan reminded Will Levis remains under contract, and he told him to expect competition in 2025.
"I still believe in the tools that he has," Callahan said of Levis, "and his ability to be a good quarterback."
But Callahan said the team will explore all options in free agency and the NFL Draft at the quarterback position.
"We'll turn every stone," Callahan said, "to find out what the best one is for us. There's a lot of work to be done between now and decision-making time. It's a position we have to do our due diligence on in both free agency and in the draft."
-Callahan said he has not yet met with controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk.
"That's upcoming," Callahan said. "This morning has been focused on the players, and the exit interviews. … That meeting will come."
-Callahan said he was happy with the play of left tackle JC Latham, and he highlighted the improvement of left guard Peter Skoronski this season. He said he anticipates center Lloyd Cushenberry anchoring the offensive line in 2025.
But Callahan said he anticipates the right side of the line looking different next year.
"We need to get a right tackle," Callahan said. "I would say you're probably going to for sure see a new right tackle in some shape or form, you might see a few. We are going to have to add more players up front… From the center on left, I feel really good about it. And then from right guard and right tackle, we're going to have to find ways to keep improving."
-Callahan said he anticipates some players will have "clean up" procedures in the coming days and months, but said he doesn't believe it will keep any of those players from being ready for the offseason program. This doesn't include players who were injured during the season and had surgeries.
-The Titans are scheduled to pick first overall in the NFL Draft, and Callahan knows the importance of getting it right.
"We have to nail the draft," Callahan said. "You want to be a draft and develop team, so you have to nail the draft. And you have to be great and supplement in free agency."
Callahan said he'll be at the all-star games, the NFL Combine, at Pro Days.
Said Callahan: "I'll be much more present in that part of it this year than last year."
