The NFL’s coaching carousel spun early this season with the Tennessee Titans’ firing of Head Coach Brian Callahan. This seismic shift comes amidst other league-wide dramas, including Mike Tomlin’s scathing critique of the Cleveland Browns’ General Manager and Tua Tagovailoa’s public call-out to his Miami Dolphins teammates, signaling a turbulent start to the 2025 season.
The 2025 NFL season has delivered its first major coaching casualty: Brian Callahan. The Tennessee Titans parted ways with their head coach after the team stumbled to a disappointing 1-5 start, despite having the No. 1 overall draft pick, quarterback Cam Ward, on their roster. This move sends a clear message about the increasingly volatile nature of NFL coaching jobs, especially when paired with a highly touted rookie QB.
The Brian Callahan Era Ends Abruptly
Callahan’s tenure in Nashville began after replacing Mike Vrabel, who had led the team to a 3-14 record the previous year. That dismal season, ironically, paved the way for the Titans to secure the No. 1 overall pick, which they used to draft highly anticipated quarterback Cam Ward. However, the combination of a struggling record and a top rookie quarterback failed to generate the desired immediate success, culminating in Callahan’s dismissal just 24 games into his five-year contract.
His firing marks a notable trend: it’s the fourth time in five years that an NFL team drafting a quarterback with the No. 1 overall selection has fired its head coach during the season. This pattern highlights the immense pressure and short leash often given to coaches tasked with developing a franchise quarterback, as reported by the Associated Press. Previous examples include Matt Eberflus (2024), Frank Reich (2023), and Urban Meyer (2021).
In his final post-game press conference, Callahan expressed frustration over officiating, specifically mentioning calls against Mike Brown and Jarvis Brownlee Jr., as well as several illegal formation penalties. He also acknowledged the team’s struggles at right tackle and praised quarterback Will Levis’s poise and playmaking, despite a tough offensive outing that included Dillon Gabriel attempting 52 passes in a Week 6 loss, as noted by Yahoo Sports.
Financially, Callahan’s firing comes with a significant cost. With his five-year contract worth approximately $3 million per season, the Titans are now on the hook for a buyout exceeding $10 million, an accepted part of the high-stakes coaching landscape in professional sports.
The NFL Coaching Carousel: Who’s Next on the Hot Seat?
Callahan’s departure has intensified the focus on other coaches whose teams are underperforming. The Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel is facing scrutiny with his team’s 1-5 record, exacerbated by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s public criticism of unnamed teammates for being late to player-led meetings. This move has sparked questions about the team’s internal culture and leadership.
Other coaches feeling the heat include:
- Aaron Glenn of the Jets, who started his tenure with six losses and faced criticism for rookie mistakes in game management.
- John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens, whose 1-5 team, a popular Super Bowl pick, is struggling with Lamar Jackson sidelined.
- Kellen Moore, currently 1-5 with the New Orleans Saints.
The instability isn’t limited to the NFL. Seven FBS college head coaches have already been dismissed during the 2025 season, including high-profile names like James Franklin of Penn State, whose buyout alone approaches $50 million, further underscoring the financial implications of early coaching changes.
Looking back at the 2024 season, three head coaches were fired mid-season: Robert Saleh (Jets), Dennis Allen (Saints), and Matt Eberflus (Bears). Their interim replacements and subsequent full-time hires have shown mixed results, with teams that waited until after the season to make a change generally faring better in the immediate aftermath, such as Mike Vrabel in New England and Liam Cohen in Jacksonville.
Mike Tomlin Takes Aim at Browns GM Over Flacco Trade
Beyond the coaching changes, a fierce AFC North rivalry received an extra dose of fuel from Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin. Following a 23-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Tomlin didn’t hold back his disapproval of Browns General Manager Andrew Berry’s decision to trade veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals ahead of Week 5.
Tomlin’s candid comments, captured by Steeler Nation, revealed his strategic bewilderment: “Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a QB you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feeling.”
The Steelers, now 4-1 with quarterback Aaron Rodgers leading the charge, are preparing for a Week 7 matchup against Flacco and the 2-4 Bengals. Tomlin’s remarks have injected an additional layer of intensity into an already heated divisional contest, with Pittsburgh aiming to maintain its strong start atop the AFC North.
Tua Tagovailoa’s Leadership Challenge
In Miami, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa added to the Dolphins’ early-season drama by publicly calling out unnamed teammates for being late to player-led meetings. This rare public critique from a starting quarterback, especially amidst a 1-5 start, immediately raised questions about team chemistry and leadership in the locker room. Such comments can either galvanize a team or further fracture it, making the Dolphins’ upcoming games critical for their internal dynamics.
Other Key NFL Storylines
As the league navigates these tumultuous early weeks, other significant events include Dillon Gabriel’s heavy workload of 52 pass attempts in a single game and the suspension of Brian Branch for his fight with Juju Smith-Schuster on Sunday Night Football. These incidents, though smaller in scale than coaching changes, contribute to the ever-evolving narrative of the 2025 NFL season.
Looking Ahead: A Season of Uncertainty
The early firing of Brian Callahan, coupled with the ongoing coaching hot seat discussions, Mike Tomlin’s pointed remarks, and Tua Tagovailoa’s challenge to his teammates, paints a picture of a 2025 NFL season filled with high stakes and unpredictable turns. For fans, these developments offer a compelling blend of on-field action and off-field drama, promising an exciting, albeit uncertain, path forward for many teams.
