Titans Complete First Week of Head Coach Search With Seven Candidates Vetted

2026-01-11 general

Nashville, Sunday, 11 January 2026.
Tennessee has vetted seven contenders, including former Coach of the Year winners Kevin Stefanski and Jason Garrett, establishing a high-profile field for the franchise’s leadership vacancy.

A Blend of Experience and Accolades

The initial wave of interviews, concluded by the week ending January 9, 2026, represents a strategic pivot toward experienced leadership [1]. Of the seven candidates vetted, five possess prior NFL head coaching experience, signaling a potential preference for stability following the in-season dismissal of Brian Callahan [2][5]. Notable among the group is Jason Garrett, who compiled an 85-67 record during his decade-long tenure with the Dallas Cowboys, yielding a winning percentage of roughly 55.921 percent [1][5]. Garrett, currently a studio analyst, was the Associated Press Coach of the Year in 2016 [1]. Similarly, Kevin Stefanski brings recent high-level success to the table; despite a challenging 5-12 finish with the Browns in 2025, he secured Coach of the Year honors in both 2020 and 2023 and guided Cleveland to two playoff appearances [1].

Defensive Architects and Internal Options

General Manager Mike Borgonzi’s search has placed a heavy emphasis on defensive expertise [2]. The list includes Steve Spagnuolo, who recently completed his seventh season as the Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator and holds four Super Bowl rings as a coordinator [1]. Spagnuolo previously served as head coach of the St. Louis Rams from 2009 to 2011 [1]. He is joined by Vance Joseph, the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator, whose unit was ranked as the NFL’s No. 1 defense on a per-play basis in 2025 [5]. Joseph previously led the Broncos as head coach from 2017 to 2018 [4]. The Titans also evaluated internal candidate Mike McCoy, who served as interim head coach for the final 11 games of the 2025 season, finishing with a 2-9 record [1], and Lou Anarumo, the Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator with 37 years of coaching experience [1].

Strategic Connections and Upcoming Interviews

Existing relationships may influence the final decision, particularly regarding Matt Nagy. The Chiefs offensive coordinator and former Chicago Bears head coach is perceived as a frontrunner due to his professional history with Borgonzi in Kansas City [5]. Nagy holds a career head coaching record of 34-31 [5]. Looking ahead, the franchise has scheduled further vetting sessions for the week beginning January 11, 2026 [1]. This next phase includes a scheduled interview with Mike McCarthy, whose career winning percentage of 60.8% places him in elite company historically [3]. Additionally, the organization has requested interviews with several other prominent coordinators, including Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter, and Robert Saleh, as they seek to finalize the leadership structure for the 2026 season [2][5].

Sources

NFL Leadership