The Tennessee Titans have a rookie quarterback and a second-year head coach, so it can be a challenge building a foundation that can win and last.
Part of the team's offseason work is building and developing that culture, especially from a leadership standpoint.
The Titans aren't trying to have Cam Ward be the leader of the team, but rather everyone take their responsibility and incorporate that on their own.
"I don't think leaders necessarily just walk into a room ready to lead. I think there's skills you have to learn," Titans head coach Brian Callahan said via team reporter Jim Wyatt.
".One of the things I tell our team all the time that I think is really important is a lot of times you ask people, 'How do you lead?' And most people say, 'I lead by example.' And my retort to that is there's really no such thing in pro sports. Leading by example is the expectation, that's your job. To be on time, to do what you're supposed to do, to work hard, to study, that's in your contract, and so my challenge to our team this year was to do more of the things that require bringing people with you, making other people better."
" ... It's a focal point of our offseason and the idea is that you develop a team full of leaders and everyone has different styles, but it's something that I think the more people you have that are comfortable in those roles and understand that it's more about how you interact with people and how you make people go around you better. That part of it, I think, is something I'm excited about."
With one full year at the helm, Callahan has a better idea of what to expect as a head coach now, and that could lead to some changes in his own leadership style.
After finishing 3-14 last season, he got to see how things can go wrong. Now, he hopes to be able to correct his errors in hopes of having a better record this season. If the same problems persist, it could very well be his last season as the Titans head coach.
Brian Callahan Reveals Changed Role for Titans RB Tony Pollard
The Tennessee Titans were forced to move on from legendary running back Derrick Henry last offseason when he signed with the Ravens in free agency. To replace him, the team brought in Cowboys running back Tony Pollard.
He was meant to supplement second-year Titans back Tyjae Spears, who was coming off an 838-all-purpose-yard, 3-touchdown campaign during his rookie season. Pollard had a strong 2023 season as well, rushing for 1,005 yards and six touchdowns in Dallas.
Unfortunately, the Titans' offense never got off the ground last year, finishing in the bottom half of the league in both passing and rushing yards.
Head coach Brian Callahan knows that the team needs to improve in almost every facet of the game before the 2025 NFL season. On Tuesday, he spoke to the media specifically about how he plans to change Pollard's role so as to benefit the team.
"In a perfect world, it's a healthier division of labor (between Pollard and Spears)," Callahan said. "I like really both of those players a lot, I think we can do a better job of managing that load so they both play a little more evenly and allows us to maybe have a spot for a third back."
While Spears did play four less games than Pollard in 2024, he had a dramatically lower workload. He only ran the ball 84 times all of last season, whereas Pollard got 260 carries.
Throughout his NFL career, Pollard has shared the backfield with other players. In 2022, he split carries with Ezekiel Elliott and still managed to rush for 1,007 yards and nine touchdowns. Sharing the backfield should be no issue for Spears either, as he found ways to be effective alongside both Henry and Pollard already in his young career.
With a rookie quarterback in Cam Ward, Callahan will have to find the best way to take the pressure off of him, and the running game is a great way to do that. If Pollard and Spears can both stay healthy and be productive, then this could be an effective formula for the Titans.
