Brian Callahan's firing could come after Titans make the following 3 unpopular moves

Brian Callahan is still employed by the Tennessee Titans, but the writing is on the wall after a shutout loss against the Houston Texans in Week 4, bringing their record to 0-4.

Callahan's dismissal feels inevitable. Team owner Amy Adams Strunk is unpredictable. The real answer for Callahan's continued employment is probably much more calculated than most realize.

Considering this management group traded Jarvis Brownlee out of nowhere and made Callahan address the media, there's a chance the unpopular head coach is being used as a shield. Adams Strunk, Mike Borgonzi, and Chad Brinker don't have to face the music so long as fans have Callahan to direct their anger at.

Titans are being selective when deciding to fire HC Brian Callahan

Callahan's performance as the head coach warrants a dismissal from Brinker and Borgonzi. But the truth is, as soon as they make the move to fire Callahan, their top scapegoat will be gone, and they will have to answer for any moves going forward.

So if Callahan remains in charge while there may be a few more unpopular moves (a la Brownlee to make), what else could the Titans do before firing the head coach?

Trading Jeffery Simmons

There is one person constantly drawing praise on the Titans roster, and it isn't Cam Ward, Calvin Ridley, J.C. Latham, L'Jarius Sneed, or T'Vondre Sweat; it is Jeffery Simmons.

Simmons is tracking for a career high in sacks, TFLS, QB hits, forced fumbles, and tackles. He's potentially heading for All-Pro status. Simmons is a young 28, and there isn't any reason to suggest that he won't be an effective player four years from now. If he is traded, this fan base should mutiny.

Trading Calvin Ridley

This move would be divisive. Fans would probably cheer it when it happened, but it would almost certainly take the wind out of Ward's sails, and it would take away the receiver he was most excited to play with. Considering that Ridley would probably fetch less than full value on the trade market, it could make an angry fan base even angrier.

Extending Chig Okonkwo

Titans fans have an irrational hate for Okonkwo. He has been a consistent performer since he was drafted, and at worst, is a solid third option for a passing attack with a team that doesn't ask its tight ends to stay in and block. Teams need multiple tight ends, and this offense isn't talented enough to let him walk away for nothing.

When it comes to the regular season — maybe the last decade — there might not be a consistently better NFL quarterback over the last 5 years than Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott.

Prescott has become the walking, talking definition of reports of his demise being greatly over exaggerated as he is, once again, playing as good as anyone in the league right now and doing so with no defense to speak of and even, in his last outing, without his best target in NFL All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

Dak Prescott is playing out of his mind so far this year,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes said on The Mina Kimes Show with Lenny on October 2. “Which, like, every few years we get this. We get like an insane Dak season where he’s just dropping dimes … like this is prime Dak right here. Even though he’s 10 years into his career. This is prime Dak. He has every single answer.’

Prescott’s play through 4 games — despite a 1-2-1 record — ha been impeccable and he leads the NFL with 1,119 passing yards and 7 touchdowns. He has also, somehow, essentially made the Cowboys must-see TV headed into a Week 5 road game against the New York Jets.

I don’t like this narrative that Dak Prescott just became a really good QB,” Ernie the Cowboys Fan wrote on his official X account on October 2. “He’s led numerous top 5 offenses through out his career under multiple offensive coordinators. He’s been an MVP candidate and an All Pro. Pay attention please.”

Prescott Has Been Even Better Under Pressure

While the debate over how good Prescott has been rages on — there will always be critics — analytics deep dives show us just how incredible he’s been in 2025 and that he’s done so coming off season-ending hamstring surgery that cost him the final 9 games of the year speaks even more to what he’s done

According to Pro Football Focus, no quarterback has been better under pressure in the pocket this season than Prescott — his 90.2 overall grade under pressure is the best for any NFL quarterback in 2025 so far.

As long as Dak is playing like this, the Cowboys can play with anyone,” PFF’s Trevor Sikkema said on The PFF NFL Show.

Hands Down, NFL’s Most Divisive QB

Want to start a wild football debate with your friends? Bring up Prescott.

Twice in his career, he’s become the highest paid player in NFL history. First, with a 4-year, $160 million contract in 2020 then again before the 2024 season with a 4-year, $240 million contract after he finished as NFL MVP runner-up in 2023.

For all those mountains of cash from Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, it still hasn’t been able to buy the Cowboys even a spot in the NFC Championship Game to this point in Prescott’s career.

In May, ESPN’s Ryan Clark called Prescott the “Most Respected” player in the Cowboys’ locker room.

That characterization was immediately called into question by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, who pushed back on the “respect” factor.

“Do people respect the man who they know isn’t going to show up in January?” Smith asked. ” … I think he’s a fabulous regular season quarterback who does an outstanding job of making sure he gets paid.”