Following Brian Callahan’s failed tenure, George Kittle explains why Robert Saleh’s inspirational leadership and defensive mastery provide the stability required to ignite Tennessee’s difficult rebuilding process.
The Tennessee Titans and Brian Callahan didn't have a very long marriage.
Callahan took over in 2024 after the franchise parted ways with Mike Vrabel after a disappointing 2023 season.
On paper, it looked like a good move.
Before becoming the Titans' head coach, Callahan was last the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals, working closely with young quarterback Joe Burrow, who became a superstar in the NFL.
Callahan had a promising young quarterback in Will Levis at his disposal, who showed good signs as a rookie. However, as the season went on, it became clear that Levis wouldn't live up to expectations.
The Callahan experiment didn't go as planned, as the Titans went 4-19 under him. The franchise decided to fire him halfway through last season.
The Titans now have Robert Saleh as head coach, and after a recent story about him from San Francisco 49ers tight end and seven-time Pro Bowler George Kittle, I think he's absolutely the right kind of coach the Titans need.
Kittle went on a recent episode of "Bussin With The Boys" and shared his thoughts on Saleh. Saleh was the 49ers' defensive coordinator last season, and Kittle said he talked to him more than ever before and got to know him better.
Kittle said that becoming a competent team in this league doesn't happen overnight, even as the Titans try their hardest to speed up the rebuild.
"He knows how to inspire," Kittle said. "He has great messaging. I mean, he's part of the invention of that defense that he coaches. I mean, our defense was mauled by injuries. He was a part of us winning 13 games. Just give him some time, and I think he's really going to put some good games out there. I really do. Especially, I mean, you guys, Cam Ward's a hell of a player. Like, he's special. The Titans are going to be good. This is my thing. My rookie year with [Kyle] Shanahan, we started the year off 0-9. We were 1-10, and then we won five straight games to end the year. Then, the next year, we had a couple of injuries and were 4-12. So, just like give him a couple years because becoming a good team in the NFL is incredibly difficult."
There were plenty of reasons why Callahan didn't work out with the Titans, but it never really felt like he knew how to inspire his players. That isn't a shot at Callahan as a person. Some people just aren't as good at that.
At the end of the day, Callahan just wasn't a good fit for the situation the Titans were in.
As Kittle showed us, Saleh is good at getting the most out of his players, especially in the face of injuries.
It wasn't too long ago that the Titans had a head coach with similar qualities. Although Vrabel's time with the Titans didn't end well, he was great at motivating his players.
In 2021, Vrabel led the Titans to a 12-5 record despite having one of the NFL's most injured rosters. The Titans set an NFL record for the most players used in a season at 91 because of their heavy injuries.
Could the Titans be like the New England Patriots and Washington Commanders and turn things around quicker than anticipated? Sure, they have the tools on the roster and in their coaching staff to do so on paper.
However, even if it takes a couple of years to get this thing off the ground, what Kittle said about Saleh further proves that he is the right man for the job. To rebuild a team that has gone 3-14 in the last two seasons, you need someone like Saleh to right the ship.
Whether it takes one season or two, the Titans are in good hands.
