“After working together for the past year, they believe — and I agree — there is a long-term benefit to clarifying and honing the focus areas of our football leadership,” Strunk said in a letter to Titans fans on Friday announcing the moves. “For that reason, we’re returning to a front office that feels more straightforward to them and me. Going forward, Mike will serve as general manager in the most traditional sense — pick and support the players, oversee the coaching staff — while Chad will continue to lead everything else about the football team.”
Strunk added: “Both will report to me, and their collective goal is to return the football team to the championship caliber you deserve.”
With No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward playing well recently, a strong rookie class overall and plenty of salary cap space, in a desirable city with a new stadium opening in 2027, the Titans’ head coaching job is an attractive one.
The team fired Brian Callahan in October, giving them a head start on a search that has included homework on dozens of candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds, including college coaches.
Former NFL head coaches Mike McCarthy and Matt Nagy (currently the Chiefs OC) — who worked with Brinker and Borgonzi, respectively — are expected to be among the Titans’ candidates when interviews begin next week. But the team will take a deliberate approach to finding its next leader.
Other names likely to receive interview requests from Tennessee include Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, former Jets head coach and current 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh and Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula, among others.
