Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - BRIAN DABOLL OR BUST For Tennessee Titans OC Position & Jeffery Simmons BLASTS Brian Callahan

Episode Date: January 21, 2026

The Tennessee Titans desperately need a top-level offensive coordinator and one may be on the way in the form of Brian Daboll. Daboll is reportedly between the Buffalo Bills head coaching gig and the ...Titans' OC job. However, the Buffalo Bills might have helped the Titans on Wednesday with an embarrassing press conference that should scare any good coach away. Also, Daboll is the last top-notch candidate with Mike McDaniel off the board and Kliff Kingsbury unlikely to be interested. Typically, new coaches pull from their previous coaching staff, but that might be difficult for Robert Saleh as Kyle Shanahan is known to be petty about losing coaches. No matter the coaches, the Titans certainly shouldn't want Brandon Aiyuk in Tennessee and they should stay away at all costs. Finally, Jeffery Simmons spoke on a recent podcast and put the hammer to Brian Callahan and his lack of accountability as a leader. This should be no shock, but it should also have Titans fans even more excited about the pivot to Saleh. LOCKED ON TITANS EVERYDAY CLUB: https://lockedontitans.supercast.com/ Subscribe to the TicTacTitans Film Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@TicTacTitans TicTacTitans Merchandise: https://dixons-dream.square.site/shop/tictactitans-gear/C3AAPNWXSXA6SBYG3USV2I7R?page=1&limit=30&sort_by=category_order&sort_order=asc Follow Tyler on Twitter @TicTacTitans Follow the show on Facebook @LockedOnTitansPod Subscribe to the Locked On Titans YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/LockedOnTitans/videos Everydayer ClubIf you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!TurboTaxFor a limited time, you can have your taxes done by a local TurboTax expert for just $150 — all in, if a TurboTax expert didn’t file for you last year. Just file by February 28. Visit http://TurboTax.com/local to book your appointment today. DripDropRight now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to http://dripdrop.com and use promo code lockedonnfl.Ultimate QBUltimate QB is totally free to play, has no ads, and works 100% offline — perfect for when you want to sneak in a quick game or two on the go. Just head over to http://ULTIMATE-QB.COM.FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. FanDuel is officially in Playoff Mode. Every game day during the NFL playoffs, FanDuel is giving customers even more ways to get in on the action. Visit Fanduel.com to get started. PrizePicksDownload the PrizePicks app today and use code LOCKEDONNFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNFLGametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNFL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.RobinhoodTrade Every Play with Robinhood. Now available across the U.S. Download the Robinhood app now to begin.Futures and cleared swaps trading involves significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. Event contracts are offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC., a registered futures commission merchant and swap firmIndeedListeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/lockedonnfl.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Tennessee Titans open offensive coordinator spot comes down to Brian Dable or bust. And I'll tell you why on today's edition of Locked on Titans. You are Locked on Titans, your daily Tennessee Titans podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome to the Locked on Titans podcast. I am your host, Tyler Rowland Titans fans. Today's edition of the Locked on Titans podcast is brought to you by prize picks. Download the prize picks app today.
Starting point is 00:00:37 Use the code Locked on NFL to get $50 in lineups after you play your first $5 lineup. On today's show, we'll talk about a recent report that makes me believe it's Brian Davel or Bust for the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator position. We'll also talk about some people who could follow Robert Sala over from San Francisco and why I do not want that to include Brandon Ayuk and Jeffrey Simmons, eviscerated Brian Callahan on a recent podcast, and I think it makes the Robert Salahire look even better. Before we dive in, do want to thank you for making Locked-on Titans, your first listen each and every day. Remember, Monday through Friday, Tennessee Titans content all year-round, always for free.
Starting point is 00:01:18 Make sure that you get subscribed, stay subscribed. It's your team every day here on the Locked-on Titans podcast. Speaking of every day, shout-out to my everydayers out there. Tune in Monday through Friday. Couldn't do it without you guys if you aren't in every day. dayer, you need to be one. We're going to get more news on the Titans coaching staff over the next few weeks. We've got to talk roster moves, free agency, the draft. So much to discuss. Make sure that you stay locked in with the Locked on Titans podcast and join the Locked on Titans every day or club as well.
Starting point is 00:01:48 I'll tell you more about that later in the show. But again, I think it's Brian Dable or bust for the Tennessee Titans at this point. He is the only offensive coordinator option still left on the market who I think would be a slam dunk for the Titans and was in my top tier of offensive coordinator candidates. And the reality is, part of that is because Brian Daible is so good, but the other part is the other two options that I would like for the Titans offensive coordinator spot simply aren't going to be available.
Starting point is 00:02:18 And that starts with Mike McDaniel. We all were dreaming about the dynamic duo of Robert Salon, and Mike McDaniel. But McDaniel, of course, about an hour and a half after I released the podcast, yesterday talking about Mike McDaniel for eight straight minutes. Decided to go be the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers. And look, how can you blame him?
Starting point is 00:02:38 Justin Herbert was the best quarterback available of all the offensive coordinator spots. Los Angeles is a nice place to live. Mike McDaniel is a guy who likes it out west from his time with the San Francisco 49ers. So I can't really blame Mike McDaniel for that. But reports did indicate that if he didn't take that, he definitely was interested in the Tennessee Titans job. And also, Cliff Kingsbury reports indicating on Wednesday that he's probably going to go be an offensive coordinator for a young head coach,
Starting point is 00:03:07 whether it's a Joe Brady who may get hired in Buffalo, which is very important to the Titans at this point, what happens in Buffalo, or with a guy like Davis Webb, who is the offensive coordinator for the Broncos, who's getting a lot of looks. Cliff Kingsbury is not going to be coming to Tennessee. So the only other top-tier option that I had on my candidate list was Brian, Dable and we got a great report from Diana Rucini on Wednesday that said Brian Dable is going to be the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator if he does not get the head coaching job with the Buffalo Bills. And at this point, I feel pretty confident that Brian Dable is going to be
Starting point is 00:03:49 the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator. I have been honest with you guys, or as Cam Ward likes to say, I've kept it a buck with you guys all the time on, hey, I like this guy. guy, but I don't think that the Titans are actually going to get a chance at him. I said that with Harbaal. I said that with Stefansky. I said that with Halfley as well. And I said it with Mike McDaniel. I said, yeah, I would love Mike McDaniel.
Starting point is 00:04:11 He's my number one option. But I don't really think that's what he's going to pick. But this time, with Brian Daible, I'm ready to get hurt again. I do believe that Brian Daible is going to be the offensive coordinator for the Tennessee Titans. And again, he is the only top tier option left. and with how important the offensive coordinator hire is for Robert Sala.
Starting point is 00:04:33 I will be honest, my excitement for the season and excitement for the Robert Sala era will go down a little bit if Brian Dable is not able to be the offensive coordinator for the Titans. And again, the decision for Dable right now is Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator or Buffalo Bills head coach.
Starting point is 00:04:50 And if I'm honest with you, why in the world would Brian Dable want to go to Buffalo after what happened on Wednesday? If you guys did not see the press conference with the Buffalo Bills general manager and the Buffalo Bills owner, it was a disgrace. They absolutely lied. The owner from the Buffalo Bills absolutely took a crap on Sean McDermott and lied to everyone right in their face and said that Keon Coleman,
Starting point is 00:05:16 the bust wide receiver from the Buffalo Bills, was the choice of the coaching staff and the general manager didn't even want him. He was just being a team player. But then after that interview, a bunch of quotes and videos start coming out of the Buffalo Bill's general manager, Brandon Bean, literally saying, I knew going to sleep that night that Keon Coleman was going to be ours the next day. If we didn't get blown away with a stupid offer, we were getting Keon Coleman. The owner literally lied. So if you're Brian Daible, you're probably only going to get two chances to be a head coach in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:05:52 That's typically how it goes. Are you going to go back to Buffalo where the owner is a certified loon and just destroyed the previous coach and lied to the people and blame the coach for a bad draft pick that the general manager had when the roster has been the failure in Buffalo and in my opinion, the roster was a bigger problem than the coaching was Sean McDermott. They have no wide receivers.
Starting point is 00:06:16 They have never gotten an elite pass rusher. Brandon Bean literally got his job as the general manager because Sean McDermott vouched for him based on their time in Carolina and then snaked him out of a job in a power struggle later on. You want to be a head coach and go into that environment? I simply don't think that that makes a lot of sense. And from the Buffalo Bill's perspective, if you're mad at Sean McDermott because you can't get over the hump,
Starting point is 00:06:43 why would you hire Brian Dable, who just failed in the New York Giants situation as a head coach and was a part of the teams that you couldn't get over the hump with as an offensive coordinator. Why does that make sense? It doesn't make sense at all. So, in my opinion, I think that there's a great chance that Brian Daible
Starting point is 00:07:03 is going to be the offensive coordinator for the Titans. And one other thing that really has me excited about that is Brian Daibble is picking the Tennessee Titans over the Philadelphia Eagles who have the most expensive offense in the NFL, a super talented offensive group. but Brian Dable wants to come to Tennessee and work with Cam Ward. Remember last year, the Giants would have sold their soul to the devil to come up and get Cam Ward.
Starting point is 00:07:30 Remember that video of Joe Shane, which I hate the way his name is spelled. Makes no sense to me. It should be shown. But Joe Shane, the general manager of the Giants, calling saying, hey, I just wanted to check one more time and make sure, and Mike Burgundy's like, no, we're going to take Cam Ward. The Giants would have moved heaven and earth if they could to get Cam Ward,
Starting point is 00:07:49 which means, that Brian Dable was in love with Cam Ward. Now, I talked about how Brian Dable's previous experience lends to running quarterbacks. He worked with Jackson DART. Got the best out of him. Got a playoff win out of Daniel Jones. Turn Josh Allen into an MVP candidate
Starting point is 00:08:11 and one of the best players in the NFL. So all of those guys have running ability, but Brian Dable also coached with Alabama when they won the national championship in 2018, and he made Tua look like a top five first round draft pick and then got Jalen Hertz to play very well in the title game. And as we go along, Jalen Hertz looks worse and worse.
Starting point is 00:08:35 And it's clear that Jalen Hertz needs an elite offensive mind to make him look like a viable quarterback. So all of those examples of quarterback development have me very excited about what Brian Dable can be for the Tennessee Titans. seven times he's had a top 10 run game in the NFL as an offensive coordinator or a head coach. Three of them were top five and what helps a young quarterback better than the run game. And if you look at the schematic trends in the NFL, the run game is more important than ever with the way that defenses are playing two high safeties, playing nickel defense,
Starting point is 00:09:11 trying to limit explosive pass plays. Being able to run the football is critical and again, Brian Daibel has been excellent with his run offense He is a specialist in quarterback development. And let me say this. Brian Dable is a little bit of a jerk. I mentioned it before when we talked about him as a head coaching candidate. He's a little bit of a grumpy guy.
Starting point is 00:09:34 He'll get in your face. He'll be angry. He's a hard butt to put it politely for our audience out there. I know a lot of you guys listen with your kids and stuff like that. Don't worry. I'm never going to break that trust with you guys. All right. But my point is he's got a little dust on the ball.
Starting point is 00:09:50 bottle and I think that's perfect for Cam Ward. Cam needs to clean up some of his mechanics, man. Cam needs to be a little more locked in on some of his throws and make sure that he is going with his mechanics all the time. And I think that Brian Dable is the guy who can drive Cam Ward to that greatness and be hard on Cam Ward. And we're going to talk about what Jeffrey Simmons had to say about Brian Callahan later in the show and my God, did Jeffrey Simmons take the blow torch to Brian Callahan? But one of the big things he was saying is Callahan didn't coach us hard enough. Good players.
Starting point is 00:10:24 Great players want to be coached hard. And sometimes that creates uncomfortable situations. Sometimes that creates tension. But that is the type of stuff that creates greatness. Pressure makes diamonds. I don't want a sissified coach who wants to be the best friend. I want somebody who will jump into the room and say, that throws sucked.
Starting point is 00:10:46 Look at your feet. Look at your mechanics. What is that? unacceptable, it's not good enough. That's what Cam Ward needs to go to the next level and be the player that we need him to be. So I would absolutely love Brian Dable. And again, Cliff Kingsbury is not coming. Mike McDaniels got hired by the Chargers. It's Brian Dable or bust for me to be at max excitement for the Robert Sala coaching staff this year. But with all that being said, who is going to follow Robert Sala over from San Francisco? It's going to be harder than it would
Starting point is 00:11:19 typically be because Kyle Shanahan is Captain Petty, but I can tell you one guy who I certainly don't want to come over from San Francisco and it's Brandon Ayuk. Do want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by Robin Hood. What have sports were traded like markets? Now you could put your sports IQ to work in real time with Robin Hood prediction markets. It's not just you against the house. It's you participating in a live market. You can buy or sell your positions live all game long, use your sports knowledge in the moments that matter. Robin Hood prediction markets changes the game. It's people moving the action so when the momentum shifts, you can move with it.
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Starting point is 00:13:42 Locked on NFL for $20 off. Download the game time app today and get back to being there Live. And let's continue today's edition of the Locked-on Titans podcast. We talked about why it's Brian Dable or bust for the Tennessee Titans, but I have a feeling it's just going to be Brian Dable. Now, I want to talk about some guys who could follow Robert Sala over from San Francisco to help fill out his coaching staff, why it's going to be kind of difficult. But I want to start with a player, not a coach,
Starting point is 00:14:26 because I've got a lot of you guys reaching out to me, a lot of conversation about Brandon Iyuk and him potentially coming over to the Titans. I absolutely hate that idea. Now before I tell you, I got something awesome that I got to tell you guys about you got to join the Locked on Titans every day or club. Hit the link down in the down in the description. Tough to say that three times fast. Lockedon titans. supercast.com you're going to get access to a locked on Titans discord server where you can talk with me, a ton of other locked on Titans fans. I'm going to give you immediate reaction when things happen, tell you about breaking news before the show ever drops, give you access to content way early.
Starting point is 00:15:09 Also, you're going to get the opportunity to hear the podcast, add free on whatever podcast app you already use. You get discounts to Locked on Titans merch. It's a great opportunity. Only $5 a month. And when you use the promo code Sala S-A-L-E-H, you're going to get your first month free. But with that being said, I have zero interest in brand-es. I mean, none, absolutely none whatsoever. I don't care if it's a trade, if he's cut, doesn't matter. I do not want Brandon Ayuk anywhere near this team. It is obvious that Brandon Ayuk
Starting point is 00:15:44 got his contract and quit on his football team. And the reason this is all popping up is because John Lynch, the San Francisco 49ers general manager, had his year-end press conference on Wednesday and said this, Brandon Iy has played his last snaps for the San Francisco 49ers. They are just outright saying he will not be back on this football team. And for things to go, the way that they've gone this year with Brandon Ayuk and the 49ers, the 49ers are one of the most respected franchises in the NFL.
Starting point is 00:16:16 I believe that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch do a fantastic job running that franchise. There is no... This isn't like Iyuk had a problem with the jets or the Browns or the Cardinals or something like that. No, this is the San Francisco 49ers. You know? It's like George Pickens is a good example to break the trend that I'm talking about. But like the Steelers.
Starting point is 00:16:38 When has anybody left the Steelers in a terrible way and went on to do good other than Pickens? Whether it's Plaxco, or not Plaxco Burris, he did pretty well in New York, but Antonio Brown, Martavius Bryant, Chase Claypool, LaVeyon Bell. Like, if you don't work with the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan, you're not going to work anywhere. And a trade?
Starting point is 00:16:59 You want me to give up draft picks for a guy who just missed the entire season with a devastating injury, quit on his team after he got a paycheck? Not a chance. It's not only about giving up capital for that kind of player. It's about what that would say to the locker room. You cannot put Brandon Ayuk's selfishness into this young locker room of the Titans. That is the opposite of what the Tennessee Titans need to do. And Robert Salah was in San Francisco.
Starting point is 00:17:27 last year. I had somebody say to me, well, you know, maybe Robert Sala can get the best out of him. Well, that didn't happen last year. And Robert Sala was in San Francisco. So I am so totally out on Brandon Ayuk. And again, not only a trade as a free agent, even if they cut him and the Titans can sign him on a one-year deal for $10 million, whatever, I'm not interested. The Titans need to go out and find their own Brandon Ayuk, who's a better person in the locker room, a more reliable player. You can find great wide responsibility. anywhere in the draft. Like, we see good wide receivers all the time be picked anywhere in the drop.
Starting point is 00:18:04 Puka was a fifth. Amon Rost St. Brown is a fourth. A.J. Brown was a second round pick, guys. Like, you know, Justin Jefferson went like 21. You know, wide receiver isn't one of these things where you need to take that kind of risk. The Titans are not in a position to do that. So out of all the people who could follow Robert Sala
Starting point is 00:18:25 from San Francisco. I am so out on Brandon I. Now, look at the coaching staff. Again, normally, when you hire a coach like this, there is an influx of guys who that new coach brings over from his old coaching staff. So it would be logical that Robert Sala would bring over some people from San Francisco. But here is the reality. Kyle Shanahan is a petty odd dude.
Starting point is 00:18:55 All right. Kyle Shanahan is not going to allow Robert Sala to take away a bunch of his assistants. And one thing that you have to keep in mind is a lot of the assistants that were in San Francisco were there before Robert Sala came back. Remember, Sala went to the Jets and then came back to be the D.C. It's not like Sala came back to San Francisco and brought a bunch of dudes back with him. No, a lot of these guys stayed in San Francisco and will stay in San Francisco. San Francisco because they don't want to do what happened with Robert Sala in New York. They don't want to go with Sala to a lesser franchise than the San Francisco 49ers
Starting point is 00:19:38 lose their jobs after two years and then have to come crawling back and hope that they get another job in San Francisco when they could just stay in San Francisco and be loyal to Kyle Shanahan. So, you know, a lot of people are looking at Chris Couturek, uh, the defensive line coach for San Francisco. I would love to bring him over to be the defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans and in theory, Kyle Shanahan could not block that move because it is a promotion.
Starting point is 00:20:07 He's being promoted from defensive line coach to a defensive coordinator spot. Shanahan couldn't block that. But Curseret has said no before. He has said, I'm good. I'm going to stay.
Starting point is 00:20:22 It's not about being blocked. It's, I don't want to go. So I would love Cursorette to be the D.C. for Robert Sala. They have a great connection. He's a great D-Line coach. He knows the defense that Robert Sala runs. He can teach it well to the players. It would be perfect.
Starting point is 00:20:40 But I don't know that he's going to come. But, again, he is a D-Line coach. So Shanahan could not block that. But, you know, Gus Bradley, who was an acolyte from Seattle, and Pete Carroll's Legion of Boom defense, he's been tied to Robert Sala quite a lot and gave Sala a few jobs in the past.
Starting point is 00:21:03 Gus Bradley is currently the assistant head coach of the defense. That's his official title. The Titans probably can't bring him over and make him the defensive coordinator unless they offer him a pure assistant head coach role. You can't just make him the defensive coordinator. That is not a promotion from assistant head coach of the defense.
Starting point is 00:21:26 Okay? So, Gus Bradley might be another guy that's difficult to get over but the Titans might be able to wiggle around that with that additional title. And we've seen things like that happen before. Okay, we've seen the Titans have to get creative with their titles.
Starting point is 00:21:43 And that's all up to the NFL office. It's not like there are written out rules that say, you know, if he does this, if you give him this title, you can interview him. Like, you've got to submit this stuff to the NFL league office and let them say whether it's a valid promotion or not based on the job title and description. But on the offensive side of the ball, that could give the Titans a potential wiggle room
Starting point is 00:22:07 with Clay Kubiak, who is currently the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers. And I talked about Mike LaFleur, who is the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets with Robert Sala in his first two years. He's currently the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles. Rams. Technically, if the Titans bring them over as offensive coordinator, that's not a promotion. Kyle Shanahan can block that. Sean McVey can block that. And Kyle Shanahan has said, I will block that.
Starting point is 00:22:34 I'm not losing Clay Kubiak. He does call plays here. Just not all of them. But if the Titans were to say, Clay Kubiak is the assistant head coach, maybe assistant head coach and offensive coordinator is enough for the NFL league office
Starting point is 00:22:56 to say yes, that is a promotion and Kyle Shanahan, you can't block that. I think that absolutely could happen and that would be a way for the Titans to get around it. But a lot of these guys, like I said, are loyal to Shanahan, not Robert Salah. They might not even want to do that even if the league allows it.
Starting point is 00:23:18 So that goes back to my point at the beginning of the show of Brian Dable or bust. Because my next couple of guys, Mike Lefleur, Clay Kubiak, probably aren't even going to be allowed to come over to the Titans. Now, Bobby Sloick, Arthur Smith
Starting point is 00:23:34 would be kind of my next options there. Adam Stenevich from Green Bay. But even Stenevich is the offensive coordinator for the Packers. That's not a promotion, even though he would get to call plays. That legally is not. So the Titans, no matter what, if they want Lefleur, Kubiak, or Stenevich,
Starting point is 00:23:52 they're going to have to get creative and hope those guys are willing to leave to call plays, which makes it a little more difficult, which reinforces the Brian Dable or bust. Okay? Now, there is one guy who I want to mention, who I'm very interested in, and I am convinced
Starting point is 00:24:10 that he is going to come over to the Titans, and I think it's awesome. And it's K.J. Wright, the former linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks. He's currently a defensive quality control coach for the San Francisco 49ers. He is not a linebacker coach. He is not a defensive coordinator. He's a defensive quality control coach.
Starting point is 00:24:29 Which means that the Titans offer him the linebacker job. If the Titans offer him defensive coordinator, he can take it. Now, I don't think that KJ. Wright is ready to be a defensive coordinator who is essentially a teacher for Robert Sala in the meeting room. I don't think that he's ready for that job. He's too young. But bringing him over as a linebacker coach? I think that would be excellent.
Starting point is 00:24:54 And then Sala can continue to train him. And then eventually, K.J. Wright, when the Titans defense is so freaking good that their defensive coordinator gets hired somewhere else, KJ. Wright will be ready and step up into that role. So I'm looking at Gus Bradley, Chris Coussorek, KJ. Wright, Clay Kubiak. And I'm going to tell you, I just don't have a lot of optimism. that a ton of 49er guys are going to get pulled over by the Titans. There will be a couple, I think.
Starting point is 00:25:22 But I don't think it's going to be anybody of significance when they do because at the end of the day, Shanahan is just a petty dude, and those guys are loyal to him as well. But speaking of coaching and everything, man, Jeffrey Simmons did a recent interview where he got real about Brian Callahan and why things didn't work out,
Starting point is 00:25:40 and it just makes me so happy that the Titans got a guy like Robert Sala. Do you want to let you know that today's episode is brought to you by Indeed. Have you ever hired someone who looked good on paper but wasn't the right fit like Brian Callahan? You know how important that is when you want candidates who truly match what you're looking for. Trust Indeed sponsored jobs. Hiring Indeed indeed is all you need. Stop struggling to get your job post seen on other sites. Indeed sponsored jobs put your post at the top of the page
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Starting point is 00:28:15 Talked about Brian Dable or bus, why Kyle Shanahan's pettiness is going to make it harder on Robert Sala. Now I want to talk about this Jeffrey Simmons interview where he outright killed Brian Callahan. It didn't feel malicious, but Simmons was just simply telling the truth. Before I dive in, do want to thank you again for making Locked on Titans, your first listen each and every day.
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Starting point is 00:29:25 But with that being said, Big Jeff, went on the Bussing with the Boys podcast with Taylor Luan and Will Compton. Look, I'm not a big fan of Bustin with the boys. I like informational podcasts where I learn things. I don't just want to be entertained by fun stories and stuff, but this is an absolute must watch. Jeffrey Simmons gets so honest, so real.
Starting point is 00:29:48 And one of the big things that he talked about was Brian Callahan. And he made it very clear in the interview. Callahan was just too soft. He was just too soft of a guy Did not push the team hard enough Did not have a high enough standard Did not hold guys accountable Let a bunch of stuff slip through the cracks
Starting point is 00:30:07 And that's why the Titans so desperately needed leadership That's why Borganzi has been preaching About leadership That's why Jeffrey Simmons said at the end of the season No matter who they hire as a coach He's got to come in here and lead Because Brian Callahan was not a leader And you're probably not shocked by that
Starting point is 00:30:26 I'm not shocked by that. I thought it was pretty obvious that Brian Callahan wasn't a leader and wasn't a stern enough guy to lead an NFL locker room. He's too nice. He wants to be your buddy. Listen,
Starting point is 00:30:40 in reality, leadership requires a little bit of jerkiness. You gotta have a little piss and vinegar to you to be a leader because leadership is going to require uncomfortable situations, tense conversations,
Starting point is 00:30:56 reality checks for people. Being a leader requires you to have a little bit of a spine and Callahan just simply did not have the backbone to be an NFL head coach. And Jeffrey Simmons gave examples. He said, and a lot of it is comparing to Mike Vrable. A lot of the conversation is, Mike Vrable did this and Brian Callahan did not.
Starting point is 00:31:16 And one of them was, Brian Callahan didn't always require people to have notebooks at the meetings and take notes and remember stuff. Jeffrey Simmons remembered when he was a rookie, he had to take a notebook to every single meeting. And Jeffrey Simmons even said he would write down the keys to victory for not only the defense, but the offense and the special teams.
Starting point is 00:31:37 Because Mike Vrable would literally quiz you on everything. You could be the 87th man on the roster. And Mike Vrable would ask you what the key to victory for a preseason game for the offense was. Do you know, were you paying attention? Did you take those notes? that sort of focus, that sort of alertness, that on edge, Jeffrey Simmons said it, I didn't want to look like a fool.
Starting point is 00:32:01 Mike Vrable would make you look like an idiot if you weren't prepared and you weren't locked in. Brian Callahan did not hold the Titans to that same standard. Jeffrey Simmons even said, there were times where we'd say, why do you guys got a notebook? I'm not saying anything you've got to write down. What?
Starting point is 00:32:19 What? What? Just insane. Also, Jeffrey Simmons pointed out that basically every single Monday Mike Vrable would kill guys with the film. What are you doing? You guys have heard the story
Starting point is 00:32:33 where he said to Taylor Luan, what the heck are we paying you $85 million for, Taylor? What was that? Vrable would destroy these guys in the film. And Jeff said there were some days, Callahan didn't even make them watch the film on a Monday that they just didn't do it. And when they did, Callahan wasn't,
Starting point is 00:32:59 he said that Callahan would be like, hey, this play, this play, this play, these are why we lost. But wouldn't really drill guys. And I'm sorry, maybe it's, you know, self-fulfilling because I'm a little bit of a jerk myself. I can admit it. All right.
Starting point is 00:33:15 But in my opinion, I'm a good leader. And it requires that. And Callahan just did. Didn't have it. One of the big things too is, Jeffrey Simmons said that when Mike Vrable was the coach, he led the film sessions for Film Friday. So right before the game, on the Friday day of practice, Vrable would lead the entire team in the film watching. Offense, defense, special teams. Mike Vrable up there, coaching the team. You know who did film Friday? Bones. And Simmons even said, this is no disrespect to Bones Fossil.
Starting point is 00:33:55 Bones is a great guy. He said, I think Bones could be a head coach. But you got your special teams coordinator up there doing film Friday. And Simmons even said, yeah, I'm in the front row. I'm a team captain. I know what's expected. He said, me and Amani Hooker would sit next to each other and just be like, why is the special teams coordinator doing film Friday instead of the head coach?
Starting point is 00:34:19 What are we doing? And Simmons even made a point and I personally think that he's talking about either Marcus Harris or Kevin Winston but he said there was a rookie defensive back that would sit in the back of the classroom and do you think
Starting point is 00:34:33 that he's locked in to the film and the keys to victory when it's the special teams coordinator doing the film and he did say which is no surprise the only guy that would really hold the guys accountable and drive them hard
Starting point is 00:34:47 was Dernard Wilson and that's no shock because Wilson would call these dudes out. That's why I keep saying, Dernard Wilson will not be back with the Titans, but Dernard Wilson was a good football coach, and I think he's going to be a good defensive coordinator going forward. Dernard Wilson actually held these guys to a standard.
Starting point is 00:35:05 Brian Callahan did not. So it's no surprise to anybody, I'm sure, but I cannot believe that it was as bad as it was. And I thought Jeff, again, it didn't seem ill-willed. Like Jeff wasn't trying to be mean to catch. But he was just being honest about why it didn't work. And he even said one of the stories that was the most damning to me. He said that he didn't mention the game, but I know what game it was
Starting point is 00:35:33 because I know what I'm talking about. I know this team better than any person on earth. I know the Tennessee Titans better than anyone on earth and I believe that. He said that Tony Pollard had had a rough season and Tony Pollard had a pretty good game on the ground. The Titans lost the game. It was a close loss, but they lost. And Mike McCoy came into the locker room,
Starting point is 00:35:55 congratulating the O-line and congratulating Tony Pollard. And Jeffrey Simmons said he thought to himself, we didn't even run for 100 yards, and we lost the game. And the coaches in the locker room congratulating, guys. What kind of standard is that? And it was the Chargers game, guaranteed. The Titans ran for 87 yards. They lost by seven points.
Starting point is 00:36:18 Tony Pollard had a pretty decent game. But that right there is, I told you, Grandpa McCoy, it's just like parenting. You take your kids to the grandparents' house. They'll let them eat candy for dinner. Your father ain't going to let you eat candy for dinner. That's why I thought it was laughable when people would get in the comments and say,
Starting point is 00:36:37 well, what about bringing Mike McCoy back? I'm sorry, you need to hit the books if you had that thought in your mind at any point in time that the Titans should hire Mike McCoy going forward. Could you not see the, He is an old man with no piss and vinegar at all who was just trying to keep everybody hunky dory. He was a camp counselor. Like, what are we doing?
Starting point is 00:36:59 You know? Also, though, outside of that stuff, Jeffrey Simmons got very personal about his lack of a relationship with his biological father, about what his mother meant to him, about how he is going, trying to go through therapy and trying to work through his emotions, about whether he should try to bridge the gap with his father who's still alive and how he should handle that. Guys, that is real-life human stuff that a lot of people can relate to. Complex relationships with your parents, feelings of abandonment, the natural hate and resentment you have in your heart for your parents
Starting point is 00:37:35 when things go like that. For Jeffrey Simmons to be as vulnerable as open and honest, I woke up on Wednesday morning after watching the interview and I bought Jeffrey Simmons jersey, he deserves it. What a guy, what a player. What an all-time legendary Titan. Make sure, and there are funny stories in there, too, guys about him and Taylor LeWan beefing in the locker room and stuff. Make sure that you go check that interview out of some must watch for Titans fans.
Starting point is 00:37:59 But that's going to do it for me today, folks. As always, I am your host, Tyler Rowland, and this was Locked on Titans.

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