Nepo Baby Head Coach Admits ‘Massive Mistake’ in Loss to Broncos
While this probably doesn’t fall under the “You Only Had One Job” moniker, it’s pretty darn close.
Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan admitted he made a massive mistake in a 20-12 Week 1 loss to the Denver Broncos in which he incorrectly decided not to challenge a call that ruled out a 23-yard catch made by rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor.
Ayomanor managed to make the catch and get his elbow down before going out of bounds.
“An elbow doesn’t equal two feet, so his foot would’ve had to come down as well,” Callahan said after the game on September 7.
That’s not accurate. NFL rules state either 2 feet need to come down inbounds or any body part other than the hand.
“My interpretation of the rule was wrong,” Callahan told ESPN’s Turron Davenport on September 8. “I’ll own it. I didn’t do a good enough job in that moment, and I should have challenged it, and it probably would’ve resulted in a potential explosive play. “I misspoke. I’m well aware of the rule, I understand how it works, and the way that I articulated it afterwards was incorrect. And I understand the rules of this game pretty well.”
In all reality, Callahan does not. His coaching to this point in his career kind of reflects that.
Callahan, 41 years old, is in his second season as Tennessee’s head coach and it very well could be his last — he went 3-14 in his first season in 2024 and a repeat performance could earn him his walking papers.
Callahan’s Gilded Path To Becoming NFL Head Coach
Nepo Babies aren’t just for Hollywood.
The NFL has plenty of them as well, with Callahan just being the latest example. He’s the son of former NFL head coach and University of Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan, who is currently the Titans offensive line coach.
Interestingly enough, Bill Callahan’s NFL head coaching career only lasted 2 seasons with the Oakland Raiders, where he led the franchise to the Super Bowl in 2002 before he was fired after going 4-12 in 2003.
Bill Callahan got another shot as a head coach at Nebraska from 2004 to 2007, where he was fired after going 27-22 in 4 seasons, including a 15-17 record in Big 12 play.
Brian Callahan made his way up the coaching ranks as an assistant for the Broncos, Detroit Lions and Raiders before spending 5 seasons as the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2019 to 2023 before he was hired by the Titans.
Nepo Baby Head Coaches In NFL: Nothing New
Callahan isn’t the first NFL head coach to have gotten a job based solely on his name.
Legendary Miami Dolphins head coach and 2-time Super Bowl champion Don Shula’s son, Dave Shula, went 19-52 as the head coach of the Bengals from 1992 to 1996.
Current San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is the son of 2-time Super Bowl champion head coach Mike Shanahan and was 70-62 headed into his ninth season in 2025.
Rex Ryan, the son of legendary NFL defensive coordinator and former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan, is perhaps the famous Nepo Baby NFL head coach of all time — he went 61-66 over 8 seasons as the head coach of the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills.
Giants’ Star Kayvon Thibodeaux Sheds Light on Relationship with Abdul Carter
The New York Giants did not open the 2025 campaign the way they were hoping to, as they suffered an ugly 21-6 loss at the hands of the Washington Commanders. There are reasons for optimism, though, with perhaps the biggest of the bunch being the team’s three-headed monster of Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter on their defensive line.
Burns and Thibodeaux were already a feared pass-rushing duo, and they were joined by Carter, who was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Having so many stars along the defensive line may seem to complicate things, but it’s clear that Thibodeaux doesn’t see it that way when he was asked about his relationship with Carter.
Kayvon Thibodeaux Opens Up on Abdul Carter
In a lot of ways, Thibodeaux knows what Carter is going through as he makes the jump from college to the pros. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Thibodeaux entered the league with lofty expectations, and he quickly proved himself to be a disruptor on defense. In his second year in the league, Thibodeaux racked up 11.5 sacks, seemingly putting him on pace to become one of the top pass rushers in the league.
Thibodeaux only racked up 5.5 sacks last season, and while missing five games didn’t help, it seemed like he struggled to find his fit alongside Burns. Adding another star in Carter who can get the quarterback and blow up plays on a consistent basis may not seem like a great idea, but the team felt the former Penn State Nittany Lions star was too good a player to pass up.
In his NFL debut, Carter racked up three tackles and 0.5 sacks, showing that he can contribute right out of the gate for the Giants. That development isn’t a surprise to Thibodeaux, as he fully believes Carter is capable of reaching his sky-high potential, while also revealing he’s been working with him behind the scenes to help him round out his game.
“I think he’s going to be great,” Thibodeaux said of Carter. “He’s a great athlete and a great talent. I think he’s super smart. He brings a different set of skills to the team. I think he’s going to contribute in a tremendous way. I’ve been giving him whatever tips I can from a technique or scheme standpoint. He’s been great. He’s going to do well.”
Giants Looking to Pick Up First Win of the Season in Week 2
GettyNew York Giants edge rusher Abdul Carter.
Even with Thibodeaux, Carter, and Burns combining for three sacks in Week 1, it wasn’t enough to get New York a season-opening victory over Washington. Sure, these guys can get to the quarterback at will, but it won’t mean much if their offense is consistently unable to put points on the board.
No team should be expected to be perfect in Week 1, and the Giants are certainly no exception. They already have a strong pass rush in place, though, so if they can figure things out elsewhere, they could have a shot to overcome this tough loss. New York will attempt to earn its first win of the season when it squares off against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2.
