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The reporting is now official, as the Tennessee Titans have announced they've completed seven interviews for their coaching vacancy in Week 1 of their search, with general manager Mike Borgonzi and company engaging with the following candidates: Lou Anarumo, Jason Garrett, Vance Joseph, Mike McCoy, Matt Nagy, Steve Spagnuolo and Kevin Stefanski.
Some of these candidates have to be considered serious contenders to replace Brian Callahan as the Titans' next coach. Others are curiosities, choices far enough afield that none of the other teams with vacancies seem to have any interest.
Now that these interviews are official, here are superlatives, compare and contrast of resumes, look ahead to what comes next and project which candidates can and should move on to Round 2 of interviews.
The perceived frontrunner ― Matt Nagy: The Nagy-Borgonzi Kansas City connection is well known. The surprise is how after four years since his last head coaching gig, Nagy isn't only being pursued by the Titans. He's got interviews with Arizona, Las Vegas and Baltimore too.
The "do it again, but better" candidate ― Kevin Stefanski: Stefanski's bona fides as a modern offensive innovator predate his time in Cleveland. Things didn't end well with the Browns, but he's still a highly-regarded schemer. Now he's equipped with six years experience on how to run a team. Think of him as a next-step evolution of who Callahan was when the Titans hired him in 2024.
Most likely to Remember The Titans― Vance Joseph: The best years of Titans football have been characterized by strong run games and aggressive defensive head coaches. The Denver teams Joseph head coached loved establishing the run, and Joseph's defensive M.O. is to blitz, pressure and play bully ball up front. Sounds familiar.
The apathy-risk candidate ― Lou Anarumo: It's hard to imagine too many people getting too excited about this one. He's well-regarded. He's a great bespoke game-planner, especially in the postseason. And yet... nothing about Anarumo screams the kind of excitement needed to rally a fanbase after four losing seasons.
Most likely to provoke questions, not answers ― Steve Spagnuolo: Spagnuolo is 66 years old. He's 11-41 as an NFL coach despite his outstanding track record as a coordinator. Can he adapt? Can he make hires to stay in touch with the modern game? How long will he coach for? It's a tough sell.
Mike McCoy, and Better Mike McCoy ― Mike McCoy and Jason Garrett: McCoy's run as interim coach wasn't anything special, and the locker room never really rallied behind him in a "you've gotta keep this guy around" way. Garrett's time in Dallas is perhaps a little underrated at this point (only one losing season in 10 years), but it's hard not to see him in the McCoy light. Offensive coaches from a bygone era who know football in and out, but aren't exactly "cutting edge."
NFL head coaching records:
Above-the-line resume headlines:
Based on interviews remaining, interest from other clubs and resume quality, here's a ranking of which candidates seem likeliest to get a second interview.
The Tennessean can report the following candidates will interview or have been requested to interview for the vacancy in the coming days: Jeff Hafley, Mike McCarthy, Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter, Raheem Morris, Robert Saleh, Chris Shula and Arthur Smith.
Like six of the seven candidates the Titans have already interviewed, this list is littered with former head coaches. McCarthy, McDaniel, Morris, Saleh and Smith have all led teams before, and Hafley was a head coach in college. Only Minter and Shula have zero career head coach experience.
The big question as the Titans head into Week 2 of the search is John Harbaugh. The former Ravens coach is the biggest name on the market, and his decision will define the direction every team with an opening takes. Reports from national outlets indicate Harbaugh will begin taking interviews in the coming days after evaluating his options, and it's tough to imagine Harbaugh not coaching in 2026 if he's interested.
Morris, Minter and Saleh are among the most requested candidates remaining in the Titans' search.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Comparing Titans candidate resumes, from Matt Nagy to Kevin Stefanski
Continue reading...
Some of these candidates have to be considered serious contenders to replace Brian Callahan as the Titans' next coach. Others are curiosities, choices far enough afield that none of the other teams with vacancies seem to have any interest.
Now that these interviews are official, here are superlatives, compare and contrast of resumes, look ahead to what comes next and project which candidates can and should move on to Round 2 of interviews.
Top NFL coaching candidates: Superlatives for Titans coach search
The perceived frontrunner ― Matt Nagy: The Nagy-Borgonzi Kansas City connection is well known. The surprise is how after four years since his last head coaching gig, Nagy isn't only being pursued by the Titans. He's got interviews with Arizona, Las Vegas and Baltimore too.
The "do it again, but better" candidate ― Kevin Stefanski: Stefanski's bona fides as a modern offensive innovator predate his time in Cleveland. Things didn't end well with the Browns, but he's still a highly-regarded schemer. Now he's equipped with six years experience on how to run a team. Think of him as a next-step evolution of who Callahan was when the Titans hired him in 2024.
Most likely to Remember The Titans― Vance Joseph: The best years of Titans football have been characterized by strong run games and aggressive defensive head coaches. The Denver teams Joseph head coached loved establishing the run, and Joseph's defensive M.O. is to blitz, pressure and play bully ball up front. Sounds familiar.
The apathy-risk candidate ― Lou Anarumo: It's hard to imagine too many people getting too excited about this one. He's well-regarded. He's a great bespoke game-planner, especially in the postseason. And yet... nothing about Anarumo screams the kind of excitement needed to rally a fanbase after four losing seasons.
Most likely to provoke questions, not answers ― Steve Spagnuolo: Spagnuolo is 66 years old. He's 11-41 as an NFL coach despite his outstanding track record as a coordinator. Can he adapt? Can he make hires to stay in touch with the modern game? How long will he coach for? It's a tough sell.
Mike McCoy, and Better Mike McCoy ― Mike McCoy and Jason Garrett: McCoy's run as interim coach wasn't anything special, and the locker room never really rallied behind him in a "you've gotta keep this guy around" way. Garrett's time in Dallas is perhaps a little underrated at this point (only one losing season in 10 years), but it's hard not to see him in the McCoy light. Offensive coaches from a bygone era who know football in and out, but aren't exactly "cutting edge."
Titans candidates comparisons: From Matt Nagy to Kevin Stefanski, who's got the best resume?
NFL head coaching records:
- Lou Anarumo: 0-0
- Jason Garrett: 85-67
- Vance Joseph: 11-21
- Mike McCoy: 29-46
- Matt Nagy: 34-31
- Steve Spagnuolo: 11-41
- Kevin Stefanski: 45-56
Above-the-line resume headlines:
- Lou Anarumo: One Super Bowl appearance as assistant, playoff wins vs Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen
- Jason Garrett: 2016 NFL Coach of the Year, three playoff appearances, three Super Bowls as player
- Vance Joseph: Coach of NFL's No. 1 defense on per play basis in 2025, back-to-back years coaching NFL's most productive pass rush
- Mike McCoy: One playoff appearance, worked with Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Trevor Lawrence
- Matt Nagy: 2018 NFL Coach of the Year, two playoff appearances, two Super Bowls as assistant, worked with Patrick Mahomes
- Steve Spagnuolo: Four-time Super Bowl winner as coordinator, coached with Andy Reid, Tom Coughlin, Sean Payton and John Harbaugh
- Kevin Stefanski: Two-time NFL Coach of the Year, two playoff appearances
Titans head coaching search: Who makes it to round 2?
Based on interviews remaining, interest from other clubs and resume quality, here's a ranking of which candidates seem likeliest to get a second interview.
- Matt Nagy
- Kevin Stefanski
- Vance Joseph
- Lou Anarumo
- Steve Spagnuolo
- Jason Garrett
- Mike McCoy
John Harbaugh to Titans? Who else will interview?
The Tennessean can report the following candidates will interview or have been requested to interview for the vacancy in the coming days: Jeff Hafley, Mike McCarthy, Mike McDaniel, Jesse Minter, Raheem Morris, Robert Saleh, Chris Shula and Arthur Smith.
Like six of the seven candidates the Titans have already interviewed, this list is littered with former head coaches. McCarthy, McDaniel, Morris, Saleh and Smith have all led teams before, and Hafley was a head coach in college. Only Minter and Shula have zero career head coach experience.
The big question as the Titans head into Week 2 of the search is John Harbaugh. The former Ravens coach is the biggest name on the market, and his decision will define the direction every team with an opening takes. Reports from national outlets indicate Harbaugh will begin taking interviews in the coming days after evaluating his options, and it's tough to imagine Harbaugh not coaching in 2026 if he's interested.
Morris, Minter and Saleh are among the most requested candidates remaining in the Titans' search.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at [email protected]. Follow Nick on X @nicksuss. Subscribe to the Talkin’ Titans newsletter for updates sent directly to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Comparing Titans candidate resumes, from Matt Nagy to Kevin Stefanski
Continue reading...
