The Athletic’s Diana Russini reported that the Tennessee Titans’ head coaching search is gaining steam, with several prominent names shaping up the board. Who are these potential candidates, and how could they shape the Tennessee organization going forward in their image? The Titans are checking their list twice and making sure it’s nice for Santa to deliver them a competent head coach.
Report: Tennessee Titans Coaching Search Taking Shape
According to Russini, the Titans’ general manager, Mike Borgonzi, will lead the search as expected. PFO Chad Brinker will be involved, but Borgonzi takes the reins for his first coaching search as GM. Who is on the list of potential candidates that could intrigue the franchise?
“Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy is viewed internally as a serious candidate. Nagy will be in Nashville on Sunday with Kansas City, but NFL rules state there can’t be any job discussions.”
Nagy’s first head-coaching experience in the Windy City ended in disaster, as he was ousted after four seasons. He posted a 34-31 record with the Bears, but the franchise hasn’t experienced much success before or after him until 2025. The former Chicago coach returned to the Andy Reid cocoon in 2022 as a senior offensive consultant. Reid then elevated him to the offensive coordinator in 2023. Nagy is one of many Chiefs assistants who crossed over with Borgonzi, so the natural connection is there.
However, the offense isn’t what it once was, due to the failure of several draft picks and general fatigue. Not even the wondrous Patrick Mahomes was immune to the offensive deficiencies before suffering a season-altering injury. Fans and media alike will be skeptical of Nagy after the offense failed to ignite in 2025. Now with the Mahomes injury, things will be laid bare in 2026, even if he returns earlier than expected. How much of the fault will be placed on Nagy is the question he must answer in the interview. KC visits Nashville in their first post-Mahomes injury contest, so it will be a good audition opportunity for him. Nagy has the chance to show off his ability without a superstar quarterback. One that he thoroughly failed in Chicago with Mitchell Trubisky.
What other candidates are on the list?
Inherently, Nagy is the first name that comes to mind, given his offensive background and ties to the front office. Russini reports that several names on the other side of the ball have gained traction, including a couple from division rivals. The natural question about defensive coordinators will be what offensive staff they will bring on board.
“As is often the case with defensive-minded candidates, the Titans’ first question will revolve around offensive staff construction, specifically, who these men would hire as offensive coordinator.”
The offensive coordinator is the most crucial hire these men can make, with Cam Ward’s development paramount to their success. Fortunately, several of these names are well-connected to the en vogue Shanahan and McVay trees.
“Tennessee also plans to reach out to several defensive coordinators, including the Indianapolis Colts’ Lou Anarumo, the Green Bay Packers’ Jeff Hafley, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Anthony Campanile, the Rams’ Chris Shula, the Houston Texans’ Matt Burke and the Chargers’ Jesse Minter.”
Lou Anarumo
Anarumo is a solid defensive mind, but the Titans will be leery of hiring another assistant from Zac Taylor’s staff after the dismal failure of a previous one. There are positives to Anarumo as he has resuscitated his tattered reputation in Indy, while the Bengals’ defense continues to struggle. Cincinnati’s defense is so horrendously abysmal that franchise quarterback Joe Burrow is becoming more speculative and contemplative about the future. The Bengals have a sordid history of alienating their quarterbacks, and Burrow is well on that path to leaving town. Can he go outside of the Zac Taylor tree and hire someone not associated with the Taylor family?
Hafley and Campanile
Interestingly, two of the listed names are connected: Jacksonville DC Anthony Campanile served on Jeff Hafley’s staff in Green Bay. Campanile is part of the resurgent Jaguars franchise under Liam Coen, leading them to a salty defense that has placed Jacksonville firmly in the AFC South hunt. Hafley is a known quantity, coordinating one of the league’s best defenses that will be without superstar Micah Parsons. Both men bring access to multiple McVay offensive assistants, including Packers OC Adam Stenavich.
Chris Shula
Shula is the grandson of legendary Dolphins head coach Don Shula and has been quietly making a name for himself without the help of the family legacy. He’s been previously mentioned for the Titans’ vacancy, and Tennessee saw him in Week 2. The Rams soundly defeated the Titans at the time, and it has proven to be a strong audition for Shula in the long run. Los Angeles fields a stout defense featuring several young draft picks, including Jared Verse, Byron Young, and Kamren Kinchens. Matt Stafford and Puka Nacua rightfully soak up the headlines in the City of Angels, but don’t sleep on Shula’s men. They have led the Rams to NFC West title and potential Super Bowl contention.
Matt Burke
The Titans gave Burke his first professional start in 2004, so it would be a reunion of sorts for the Dartmouth graduate. He left Tennessee for an on-field role as linebackers coach in Detroit before the 2009 season after serving as a quality control coach for three years. Houston hired him as the defensive coordinator in 2023 to serve under defensive mastermind/head coach DeMeco Ryans. The Texans’ devastating defense is a top-five unit in the league, featuring DPOY candidate Will Anderson, Jr., and Danielle Hunter. They ruined Tennessee in both meetings this season, racking up five sacks and allowing just 13 points total. It’s a hire that owner Amy Adams Strunk would love, as the family loves poking at their blood rival, Houston.
Jesse Minter
Minter has established himself as a bona fide head coaching candidate after coming with head coach Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers. The national championship-winning defensive coordinator leads one of the fiercest defenses in the NFL. He’s a young defensive mind with a burnished CV to match. His offensive staff will be one to monitor with a limited Rolodex to call upon, however. Minter is the son of longtime NFL coach Rick, who serves as a senior defensive analyst for his son. He also possesses a tie to Nashville as he served as defensive coordinator for Vanderbilt in 2021. The bulk of his NFL experience comes from the Ravens, so the terminology and scheme won’t be too different from those of the current Titans DC, Dennard Wilson. The Chargers’ defense is still ticking even with its annual litany of injuries, which is a plus to Minter’s credentials.
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