Brian Callahan: ‘Complete And Utter BS’ To Call 3-11 Titans ‘Soft’

The Tennessee Titans haven’t had the season they wanted.

For one thing, they’re 3-11 heading into Week 16 in their first year under head coach Brian Callahan. Perhaps even more concerningly, they’ve benched their second-year quarterback Will Levis, who they had hoped could become a long-term starter, for Mason Rudolph.

Levis has 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games this season and posted a 1.1 QBR against the Bengals this past Sunday in a box score comprising just 12 passing attempts, no touchdowns, and three picks.

“This is all about trying to go out and win this week,” said Callahan, discussing the quarterback change on Wednesday.

With a difficult season has come criticism, particularly directed at Levis but encompassing anything from coaching to team culture. In the same Wednesday press conference, a reporter asked Callahan how he would respond to the idea that the Titans were simply too ‘soft’, physically or mentally.

Callahan shot back with a long, angry rant.

“I think that’s complete and total b——- if you want my honest opinion,” said Callahan. “These guys are tough f—ers, man, they go after it every day. They play hard as hell, and at no point have we ever put on tape at any point this season that this is a soft football team. I can’t even wrap my mind around how that would even be a conversation. I mean, just because we don’t win games doesn’t mean we’re soft.”

“That means you just don’t watch the s—. You don’t know what you’re talking about, you don’t know what you’re looking at. So, I’m not going to stand for anybody calling this football team soft. I think that’s b——-.”

Stephen A. Smith defended the rant on ESPN’s First Take, saying, “He would know, and he should defend his team. We all know that the real problem with the Titans is that they don’t have a quarterback.”

Callahan hasn’t given Titans fans a whole lot to be happy about so far. But they wouldn’t mind it if this tirade, plus the quarterback change, were able to spark the team into performing.

Tennessee plays the 6-8 Indianapolis Colts this Sunday.