Cam Ward drafted No. 1: Why the pressure is now on Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan

The Tennessee Titans didn’t just select a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick—they selected an identity. In choosing Miami’s Cam Ward, they handed the keys to their franchise not only to a promising young passer but also to a head coach with everything to prove. Brian Callahan’s first year in Tennessee was marked by brutal sideline honesty, especially when it came to Will Levis. Now, with his chosen quarterback leading the charge, Callahan steps into the biggest challenge of his coaching career.

In 2024, Brian Callahan’s sideline interactions with Will Levis often went viral—and not in a good way. A now-infamous sideline exchange saw Callahan stride over to Levis and, with visible frustration, demand an explanation: “Hey, what the f--- are you doing?” After a Week 2 loss to the Jets, Callahan didn’t hold back: “It was dumb. It was the same exact thing he did last week, and he cost us points in the red zone. … He’s a grown-up and he knows better, and so I was really irritated that he cost us three points in a game that we probably needed it.”

It’s easy to see why Callahan, inheriting Levis and lacking long-term investment, may have felt freer to vent his frustrations. But that leeway disappears with Cam Ward. This time, it’s different. The Titans didn’t stumble into Ward—they went all in.
Ward isn’t the polished product Joe Burrow was, but he’s no reckless gunslinger either. He has moments—like a wild cross-body pick against Florida—that demand refinement. But he also flashes tantalizing tools: a big arm, creative footwork, and mobility shaped in the Mahomes era. Ward was 14 when Patrick Mahomes entered the league, and it shows.
“He’s a quarterback who seems to be possibly good enough … if the offense that’s built for him is good enough.”
Also Read: Who’s attending the 2025 NFL Draft? See all 17 confirmed prospects
This pick is about more than just throwing touchdowns. It’s about building something sustainable—an offense, a culture, a future worth selling to fans before a new stadium opens in 2027. And now, for Brian Callahan, there are no scapegoats. Cam Ward is his guy. And how far Ward goes will ultimately decide how long Callahan stays.