As the losses pile up for the Tennessee Titans, one might expect frustration and finger-pointing inside the locker room. But despite a disappointing 2-8 record, key players are making it clear that they still believe in first-year head coach Brian Callahan.
Simmons: “We Got His Back”
Defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, a vocal leader on the team, stood at his locker for over 20 minutes following Sunday’s 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. While Simmons expressed frustration with some questionable calls that went against the Titans, he was quick to praise his teammates for continuing to battle.
We got his back and we’ll keep fighting. The fight this team showed, especially in the second half, is why you want to play this game. No matter what the record may be, that’s why I come to work, and I’m ready to go to war with my guys.
Jeffery Simmons on head coach Brian Callahan
Simmons pointed to Callahan as the driving force behind the team’s refusal to give up even when facing long odds. It was a sentiment echoed by other Titans players in the wake of their latest defeat.
Landry Sees Reason for Optimism
Outside linebacker Harold Landry III believes the Titans have the right pieces in place to eventually turn things around, even if the results haven’t shown it yet. He referenced the 2022 Jacksonville Jaguars, who overcame a 3-7 start to win the AFC South, as proof that fortunes can change quickly in the NFL.
There’s optimism because we know the guys that we have in the locker room, and we have the right people in the building to turn this thing around.
Harold Landry III
According to Landry, Coach Callahan has emphasized incremental improvements on a daily basis. Even undrafted rookies like receiver Bryce Oliver and safety Mike Brown have stepped up when called upon, a testament to Callahan’s coaching.
A Coach Who Will Fight for His Players
In Sunday’s game, Callahan showed his own fighting spirit, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty while vehemently arguing what he considered a bad call that went against safety Mike Brown. It was a rare outburst from the even-keeled coach, but his players appreciated seeing that passion.
It shows his passion for the game. Everybody wants to win. If something’s not right he’s going to speak his mind.
Mike Brown on Coach Callahan’s sideline argument with officials
Crucial Stretch Ahead
The 2-8 Titans currently have just a 0.5% chance of making the playoffs according to ESPN’s Football Power Index. Only the 2-9 Jacksonville Jaguars have a worse record in the AFC.
But with five divisional games still remaining on the schedule, starting with this Sunday’s clash against the AFC South-leading Houston Texans, Tennessee has an opportunity to at least make some noise within the division. Callahan knows these matchups mean a little bit more.
The stakes are a bit higher and they’re games you want to win because none of us like each other very much. We got to find a way to at least make a mark on our division here at the end of the year with all these games coming up.
Coach Brian Callahan on upcoming AFC South matchups
Second-year quarterback Will Levis, who has struggled mightily this season, also wants to just start stacking some wins. While Levis hasn’t proven he can be the franchise quarterback the Titans drafted him to be, there’s still time to show growth in the season’s final seven games.
At 2-8, no one is happy inside the Titans facility. But by all accounts, the locker room remains united behind their head coach. The question is whether Callahan can use these final weeks to build some positive momentum heading into a crucial offseason for the organization.
