Best of the Bus: Brian Callahan On Taking Over The Titans From Mike Vrabel + His Coaching Journey

Summary

Bussin’ With The Boys — “Best of the Bus: Brian Callahan On Taking Over The Titans From Mike Vrabel + His Coaching Journey”

Date: August 23, 2025
Guests: Brian Callahan (Head Coach, Tennessee Titans)
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan

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Episode Overview

This episode revisits and highlights the dynamic, candid, and insightful conversation the Bussin’ With The Boys crew had with new Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan. Fresh off his landmark hire—taking the reins from beloved former head coach Mike Vrabel—Callahan gets “on the bus” to discuss:

• The unprecedented move of hiring his father, Bill Callahan, as offensive line coach.
• His entire coaching journey: from college coffee runs up to the NFL’s biggest stages.
• Navigating franchise-altering quarterback decisions and building team culture.
• Adapting to the modern NFL, NIL era, and coaching personalities.
• Previewing the new Titans offensive vision and the expectations for the 2025 season.

Throughout, Callahan is open about both the pressure and joy of his unique path—and what Titans fans can expect from this new era.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Nickname & Coaching Identity

• Coach Brian Callahan’s Nicknames: Players and staff usually call him “Cali.” He notes that “Brian is weird—people don’t call me Brian very often.” (02:22)

The Callahan Coaching Dynamic

• On working with his father, Bill Callahan
  Brian describes Bill as an old-school grinder who has nevertheless adapted across generations:

  “He’s always been full tilt all the time. … That’s how you get better. Every usable second, he uses.” (03:16)

• Bill’s coaching philosophy is to firmly teach his preferred techniques but allow for adjustment based on player experience and input:

  “He’s able to have a conversation with a guy maybe that’s played 10 years and say, well, how have you done it? And find ways to work with them… as long as they’re still getting the job done.” (03:49)

• Bill’s adaptation to today’s players involves less yelling and more individualized motivation:

  “He’s a master coach. He’s got every way to relate in the book.” (06:32)

• The story behind hiring Bill: After previously being hesitant, Bill agreed because “what a unique opportunity to go try to help my son succeed.” (09:07)

Making His Own Path

• Brian’s dad encouraged him to start his career on his own rather than as a “GA” (graduate assistant) under Bill at Nebraska:

  “Best advice he had ever given me…make your own way. … You’re already going to get all the nepotism and all stuff … but I didn’t give you your first job. That will matter at some point for you.” (10:03)

Coaching Journey: Cutting Teeth in College & The NFL

• GA at UCLA:
  • Brian describes the grind, learning from future NFL head coaches, and “doing everything” in an era before massive support staffs. (11:58)
  • “Breaking all the tape down before all the PFF data… the tape wasn’t in HD…it was a lot of work.”
• Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Analytics:
  • Brian values PFF for its raw data—especially for research like watching “every screen from every team for the last four years”—but doesn’t trust their grades for actual player evaluation. Grades are “a halfway accurate depiction” but “not the end all, be all.” (15:10)
• Key NFL Coaching Stops:
  • Denver with Peyton Manning:
    • “Being around Peyton Manning for any amount of time is a blessing…That was like a PhD.” (17:02)
    • On Manning’s last year and diminished physical skills: “It was unbelievable what he pulled off with his brain.” (17:52)
    • Manning’s standards: “If you don’t meet it, you’re not going to be playing with them.” (21:38)
  • Detroit with Matt Stafford:
    • “Might be one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around. One of the craziest talented QBs.…He was that player before he got to LA.” (24:20, 25:03)
    • Stafford’s lack of recognition tied to Lions not winning enough—wins become a “QB stat.” (25:44)
  • Cincinnati with Joe Burrow:
    • On immediacy of Burrow’s impact: “About halfway through that first year…this guy, he’s arrived.” (28:13, 30:01)
    • Draft debate between Jamar Chase and Penei Sewell—ultimately, the staff (and Burrow) favored Chase for his ability to win fast and change the game. (30:50-33:07)
    • “If he can win fast enough, it’s not going to matter how long we block.” (31:28)

Quarterback Traits & Team Building

• What do Peyton, Stafford, Burrow share?
  “There’s just something about those guys…they don’t accept anything other than the best. There is no such thing as failure.” (27:43)

  “At their core, they are assassins.” (27:44)

• Burrow’s injury and franchise impact:
  Burrow’s injury led to the team’s poor record, which allowed them to draft Jamar Chase—a development Brian calls a “sacrifice” for the franchise:

  “He ultimately sacrificed his knee for Jamar Chase.” (30:02)

Culture & Vision for the Titans

• Taking over after Mike Vrabel:
  Acknowledges the “tough, well-coached” Titans identity and aims to preserve core ethos while cultivating an even more connected, authentic, and joyful work environment:

  “You want an environment that they love working with their coaches, too… You want guys that love coming to work and playing football together.” (44:01-45:14)

• Former “Patriots Way” gave way to looser, higher-energy vibes; Brian’s goal now is to build a culture of accountability without unnecessary harshness or fear. (46:11-47:24)
• Weigh of Words as a Head Coach:

  “I’m learning more about the weight of my words and my interactions and how much it matters to guys when maybe you don’t think twice about it…” (46:53)

• Expectations for 2025 Titans:
  Excited about offensive upgrades—“If we can put it all together, I think we have a chance. … I believe in Will Levis. It’s a large reason I took the job.” (36:43) Will Levis has the toughness and drive—“that innate toughness that guys rally around”—which Brian sees as a common trait among great QBs. (37:50)

Pillars and Core Values for the Titans

• The “Three Cs”:
  1. Character: “Are they coachable, dependable, positive?”
  2. Communication: “Best teams in the league are great communicators…on the field and off the field.”
  3. Connected Team: “Being part of something bigger than yourself.” (58:40)

  “The football parts are prerequisite…what makes the difference…are the character, the communication, and being a connected team.” (59:41–60:34)

Modern NFL, NIL Impact, and Player Personalities

• Brian notes the latest rookies, used to NIL money and college transfers, arrive with different attitudes—but now face NFL contracts and higher stakes.

  “That part is unique…now they can’t transfer and they’re under contract. … The adjustment period comes when they get to the NFL.” (72:13) Many rookies are already financially literate due to NIL—less risk in that regard. (74:07)

Titans-Specific Insights and Fan Q&A

• On Traylon Burks: Reassures fans he’s been “phenomenal” this offseason and welcomes the challenge of finding a way to spark his production given the new weapons (104:06).
• Derrick Henry’s Departure: Decision came down to salary cap, but mutual respect remains. (74:53)
• J.C. Latham as Draft Pick:
  • No fear about moving him to left tackle despite mostly playing right—compares the move to what Tyron Smith did in Dallas. (97:31)
  • “He’s out there in the afternoon mad that he didn’t do well enough…working again…this is the right makeup.” (99:05)

Coach Callahan’s Personality and Pop Quiz Segments

• Barstool “Stoolie” Credentials: Brian reveals himself as a long-time Barstool fan, ranking Big Cat #1: “He’s like internet Kobe or something.” (78:06)
• On Rookie Shows: “I love rookie shows…recent ones have been subpar—not been impressed…they’re just not funny…” (51:03)
• Dad Stories: Brian recounts being a straight shooter as a kid, with some mischief—confessing to nearly burning down a forest as a middle-schooler, and learning hard lessons about honesty from his dad, Bill Callahan. (86:51)
• Barstool’s “Beer Games” & Personal Life: Moving from Cincinnati to Nashville, living the “college lifestyle” temporarily, and family roots in Chicago.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On coaching with his father: “Maybe the coolest experience of my coaching career is to go to work with my dad every day.” (09:07)
• On being a “son-of-a-coach” but doing it his own way:
  “That was the best advice he ever gave me…don’t let me give you your first job. It will matter at some point.” (10:03)
• On the magic of Peyton Manning:
  “What made him so great was his ability to process and know what to do and when to do it in the moment.” (18:52)
• On Jamar Chase over Penei Sewell:
  “If he can win fast enough, it doesn’t matter how long we block. If he can win quick, we can get the ball out quick.” (31:28)
• On leadership philosophy:
  “I just believe that … when there’s a looseness and a joy in the process, it makes a really hard profession a little less hard.” (47:24)
• Coach’s words matter:
  “I’m learning more about … how much it matters to guys when maybe you don’t think twice about it, but it might be the only time you interact with the head coach for a week.” (46:53)
• On team values:
  “Character, communication, and a connected team—those are the three things that I think matter the most.” (58:40)
• On J.C. Latham:
  “He’s out there working again [by himself after practice]…that’s the right makeup.” (99:05)
• On Titans expectations:
  “We have a chance to prove a lot of people, a lot of opinions wrong. … You’re going to see energy and connection in this team.” (112:21)
• Would you cut off your dominant hand for a Super Bowl?
  “I could be, if that’s what it meant…I would give it some consideration.” (109:23)
• On rookie shows:
  “However…recent rookie shows…not been impressed. They're just not funny...you can't be scared!” (51:03)
• On being the “12th Titan” and swinging the sword:
  “I’ve not experienced this yet, so you might have to…” [promises to look into it] (105:59)

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Notable Timestamps

• 02:22: Nicknames, “Cali”, and coaching identity.
• 03:16–06:53: Bill Callahan’s coaching style and adaptation.
• 07:02–09:41: Hiring his father, navigating family/professional boundaries.
• 10:03: On starting his own career path.
• 15:10: Stance on PFF grading and analytics.
• 17:02–18:52: Denver days with Peyton Manning; Manning’s standards and leadership.
• 24:20–25:44: Detroit and how Matt Stafford was underrated.
• 27:43: Comparing Manning, Stafford, Burrow—the assassin mentality.
• 30:50–33:07: Drafting Jamar Chase over Penei Sewell.
• 36:43–39:31: Titans’ offensive weapons/roster strategy and Will Levis.
• 44:01–47:24: Philosophy on Titans’ culture—accountability, joy, and toughness.
• 58:40: The “Three Cs” of the Titans under Brian Callahan.
• 74:53: Derrick Henry’s exit and mutual respect.
• 86:51: Story of almost burning down the woods as a kid and Bill Callahan’s reaction.
• 99:05: J.C. Latham’s work ethic—staying after practice to master the sled.
• 104:06: Traylon Burks and the challenge of carving out his role.
• 109:23: Tramp stamp for a Super Bowl instead of sacrificing a hand!

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Final Thoughts: Why Titans Fans Should Be Fired Up

Coach Callahan brings a blend of NFL pedigree, humility, learning agility, and modern leadership. He’s elevated the roster, brought on proven minds (including his dad), and is committed to authenticity, communication, and camaraderie. Titans fans should look forward to a team built on connection, toughness, and high standards without losing the joy of playing the game.

Callahan:

“I can’t make predictions…but as far as the people and what the team looks like, I think you’re gonna be excited to come watch.” (112:21)

Hosts Summarize:

"We'll be supporting you all season long, flying the Titans flag. Thanks for coming on the bus!" (115:01)

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For listeners, this episode offers a rare, revealing look into the mind and methods of an NFL head coach on the rise—ideal for Titans fans and NFL junkies everywhere.

Transcript

[Interviewer]

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[Coach Brian Callahan]

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[Interviewer]

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[Coach Brian Callahan]

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[Interviewer]

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[Coach Brian Callahan]

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[Interviewer]

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[Coach Brian Callahan]

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[Interviewer]

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[Coach Brian Callahan]

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[Interviewer]

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[Jake Hofer]

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[Coach Brian Callahan]

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

On this episode of Best of the Bus, we're throwing it back to when the Titans hired a new head coach. That new head coach, Brian Callen, he came on the bus shortly after he landed his job coach dived into his decision is bringing his dad, Bill Callahan on board as the O line coach and shares how the conversation played out behind the scenes. We talked through his coaching journey every stop, every lesson and what it what it takes. Stepping into the role after Mike Vrabel, who is widely loved by the fan base, Callahan breaks down his plan of what he's going to keep from the culture and what's changing and why Titans fans should be fired up for the future. Enjoy this episode, boys. Big hugs, tiny kisses. Subscribe Unsubscribe.

[Interviewer]

Resubscribe before we jumped on here, we were on the other side talking about coach Bill Callahan's individual yes. And Taylor was asking Coach Brian, did I call you Coach Brian or do they call you Coach Callahan?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

How they see you want to know? Most of them call. Most of them call me Cali.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Cali.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Okay.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's got a little extra English on it. I like that. That is nice.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It's, it's, it's what most people have called me most of my coaching career. Yeah. And. But yeah, coach works. Cali works. All right, well, Brian's weird. People don't call me Brian very often. That's a weird one for me.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Okay, Mr. Cali it is, then.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Taylor was talking to Cali about the individual of coach Brian Callahan, and I was like, oh, yeah. So sometimes in our individual linebacker drills in Washington, be like, all right, water break. And then we'd be like, let's go watch the. Let's go watch the Hogs is Indian. We just stand across the field and watch them. They just be dying the whole time. It's so funny, bro. He's a. Coach Collins, a grinder. He gets out of you.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Coach Bill Callahan.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, Coach Bill Callahan.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, absolutely. What was. Go ahead.

[Interviewer]

I was just going to say whatever time frames that you get.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

What.

[Interviewer]

Any constraints, you're juicing as much all the seconds, you're getting it out of the boys.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Has he been like that always? As long as you can remember?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, always. He's always been full tilt all the time. And that's how you get. I mean, that's how guys get better. I mean, you. Like, we were watching yesterday, I think they might have done 40 or 50 different pass sets, and they film every one of them, and he cuts every one of them up to each guide so you could watch all your reps for the whole day and see how you progressed during a day and got better. But, yeah, it's every usable second he uses. It doesn't ever stop.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

What's his philosophy on pass sets? Because a lot of coaches come in, they're like, we do it one way and one way only. Does he let the guys, the boys do what they want?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Well, he. He coaches the technique that he's looking for, but there's a lot of variance in the set, the set angles. If you're jump setting versus a. We call it a Congo set versus an angle set. There's. There's all kinds of variation that they use all the time, and there is some for like, he. That's one of the things that I think he does great is he's able to have a conversation with a guy maybe that's played 10 years and say, well, how have you done it? And find ways to work with them on what fits as long as they're still getting the job done. Yeah, he's open to listening to guys talk, but he's a very particular way about how he coaches it.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Dude, that's. That's so awesome how the old dogs.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Are willing to still learn and do all that because you get some of those old, old school cats, they'll come in and be like, you do it this way and this way. Only one guy. Have you ever met Russ Grimm?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I have not met him. I know him. I don't. I can't say that. No.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I was with Russ for two years. Greatest offensive line coach I've ever had in my entire life.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

And he comes in the first meeting and he's like, talk to me about stutter. I don't know if you guys have stutter. Open, open, side, pull scheme. And I'm like, okay, if it's a three technique, you deuce to the mic. And if not, then you're this. He's like, whoa, deuce or through the mic. That's it. I was like, all right, what step? He's like, just get to the mic or do the deuce. And he just like. Instead of having to over explain every small detail, he was like, just know what your job is and go get that done the best way you can possibly do it, and I'll help you along the way. And he was huge for my career. Yeah, keep it simple. Stupid.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, there's something to that. Yeah, there's something to that. It's, I think, the cool thing for, like, old coaches. And my dad's not that old, I guess, but he's kind of old enough. He's older.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, he's old gentleman.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And what's been super impressive about him is his ability to go from like, being that old, like the old, old school style of coaching. And he's really adapted how he approaches today's players. I mean, it's different now even than when. When you guys played coming in. I mean, you think about 10 years ago how much different the generation is, and his ability to relate to those guys and still connect with them and coaches him hard as hell. But they all know that he cares about them.

[Interviewer]

Knowing. Knowing that you've seen him kind of adapt and develop with those times. Is there anything that you've asked him on, like, you know, noticing that difference and him understanding that he has changed?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, I think there's a. There's a. You know, I think one of the things that I that jumped out was, you know, they drafted dejuan James last year in Cleveland, and it was just. He's just very different than the guys that he's been on. And. And a long time ago, he might have coached Dewan to very different way, and ultimately it might not have worked very well. And just to see him adapt and know that Maybe the way that I'm approaching this, Duan's not going to respond to me yelling and screaming and getting in his face. I got to be. It's positive and encouraging and trying to point out that these are the things that can help you. And if you want to make a lot of money, here's how you do it.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Right.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And I. And he appeals. He knows how to appeal to guys a lot of different ways. He knows the motivations, I think. I mean, he's a master coach. He's. He's got every. Every way to relate that you can relate in the book. And I ask him all the time, like, well, how did. What made you do that? Why'd you do that in this case and not that case? And it's because he knows the player and he knows how to make it work.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

When you get this job at the Tennessee Titans and you call your old man, say, I want you to be the old line coach for my ball club, how did that. How did that all go down?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It was. It was cool. The backstory is I interviewed for. For two jobs the year before that had gone, oh, well, a ways down the road. I felt like I was in the mix, and I'd had a conversation with him, and I said, you know, do we want to do this? I've never worked for my dad. Never. He. I never worked for him at any point. There had been some chances where I might have. We might have connected on staff together. Just never worked out. So I've never spent any time with him in the coaching profession. And so I asked him this question a year ago, and he was like, no, I don't think I want to do that. Really? Yeah. Well, I mean, you think about trying.

[Interviewer]

To picture his voice, too.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. But you think about. You know, there's a lot that goes into a father and son working together. And this would be. This is the first time that I think a son has ever hired their father in a. In a substantial role like that. You know, it's like, Kyle Shanahan, Mike's always been around, but he never hired him in an official. Like, it wasn't like Mike Shanahan was Kyle's coordinator.

[Interviewer]

Right.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

If that makes sense. Yes. It's kind of a really unique setup. And so, you know, we had to work through all those things. Like, my dad's like, I'm not for everybody. I'm. What if you don't. What if you don't like the way I co. You know what I mean? And you have to have those conversations and so we did. And ultimately he was like, I just think, I really like Cleveland. I like Kevin Stefanski and I'm happy here. I like the guys in the room. I don't really want to leave. I understand. And so I kind of just assumed that was going to be the case as this process went along. And so as I interviewed, I was, everybody asked like, well, you know, is your dad coming with you? I'm like, no, he's not. I mean, we had, we had the conversation, it's probably not going to happen. And I didn't think it would. And all of a sudden I get the job and I call him and tell him I got it. And he calls the next day and he's like, let me think about some things and I'll, I'll call you back.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Hold on.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I was like, okay, you call him.

[Interviewer]

Say, I got the bill's negotiation at this point.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No, no, I mean that initial conversation was like absolutely thrilled. We didn't have it in that moment.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, yeah. But you know, yeah, you guys have a conversation. Hey, I got the job. Proud of you, son. Tears in both of your guys eyes.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Absolutely.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

The next day he calls you and without any context goes, let me think about coming to help you out.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, I love that.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It is awesome.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And I think it just became, became much more real for him and moment and, and I think had it been the year prior, I think the answer still would have been no. And, but having it happen in real time and him going, man, this is a, what a unique opportunity to go try to help my son succeed. And I think I'd want to be a part of that. And so as you know, I'll go have my press conference. And we were kind of talking back and forth and after the press conference, he was like, this is, I want to make, I want to do this. We need to do this. It'll be, it'll be really pretty fun. And it's been maybe the coolest experience of my coaching careers to be able to go to work with my dad every day. It's been pretty sweet.

[Interviewer]

Dude. You had a, an incredible, like, pressure when you're talking about coaching with your dad. Like, there's a lot of perspective, a lot of just like, you can tell when you say that, like you genuinely mean it.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, yeah.

[Interviewer]

Was there a reason that you got that you guys were never on the same staff. Is there something about say maybe yourself to where it's like, hey, I don't want to be known this way. I don't want to feel like I get any handouts from somebody who's already been there, done that.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, all of that's true. One of the things I had finished, my dad was at Nebraska at the time. I was just finishing my playing career. And he goes, he said, look, you can come to Nebraska and you can be a GA here for me if you want to do that. I have a spot. You can come do that. He goes, but what I would recommend to you is you've been at UCLA for. For four years. You know the people there, you know the place, they have also said, we'd love to have you in this role if you want to come when you graduate and do here at ucla. And my dad was like, I really think you should stay at ucla. And in that moment, I was like, like, damn, dad. Like. But the best advice he had ever given me was he goes, starting. Make. Make your own way. He goes, it's already. You're already going to get all these, you know, all the nepotism and all stuff that goes around coaching where it's like. He goes, but you've. I didn't give you your first job. And he goes, that will matter at some point for you. And I want you to make your own way and, and make your own connections and meet your own people that can help you, as opposed to me being the one to do it. And I think that was the best advice you could have given me. And it. It probably was the best thing that happened to me was not going to work for my dad and staying where.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I was at any point. Were you guys close to working together in the past?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No, nothing that came up. You know, when we first got to Cincinnati, there. There was some. There was a chance that maybe it could have worked out, but it's Zach's first job, and he's. He wants to hire the people that. That he wanted to hire. And it never got. It was never more than like a curiosity, like, oh, I wonder if that would work. And it just. He was still in Washington at the time, and it was all. He was, again, happy where he's at. He's got a good line there. It was no big deal. So it never, never went any further than a curiosity. But it. No, we've never been really close at any point to working together, which is kind of crazy to think.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. Talk about how you. You cut your teeth into the business being a GA at UCLA and moving on from that role.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, typical GA stuff, man. I. I made coffee and got people food and worked long hours and, you know, we had A really good staff there at ucla, which it's. Someday someone will write a story about it. But Eric Biennium was the running backs coach. John Embry was our tight ends coach. Dino Babers was the receivers coach. Tom Cable was the offensive coordinator. Jim Sabota was a quarterbacks coach. We had all these guys that had all went on to be head coaches, you know, within a certain period of time, and a really dynamic staff, all these. And so I got to learn from all these guys as a really young coach, which probably a huge reason of why that experience was so good for me. But, man, it was a. It's a grind. Gae. Life is. Is. Is not for everybody. Back then, that was. You only had two GS that could be on the field. And so it was like it was two or three guys that did everything. Now you have all these analysts and there's all this different stuff that they didn't have back then. By rule, you couldn't have anybody else.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Couldn't legally have anybody on, but depends.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

On where you went.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Ucla.

[Interviewer]

Ucla?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Not at ucla, I can guarantee you that. Because really? Oh, yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Followers of the Bruins, huh?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, it was me. In fact, the GA's there were me, Clark Lee, head coach at Vanderbilt, Ryan Ficken, who's been in the NFL for quite some time as a special teams coordinator, and Phil Rauscher, who's the line coach at the Jags. And so it was a bunch of guys like, we were all young coaches and we've all had these pretty good careers, but that was all we had. And we had to do every. We did everything, really. I mean, operation stuff, grinding all the tape, breaking it all down, Breaking all the tape down before all the PFF data got supplied to everybody. I mean, you had to break down the down and distance. You didn't know what personnel was in the field. You couldn't see the jersey numbers because the tape wasn't in hd. It's just a whole different way of doing things than it is now. But it was. It was a lot of work. It was hard.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

So UCLA didn't look over at the SEC and go, you know, they got a lot of guys over there. Maybe we should do a couple of things too.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No rule followers. I like that. Yeah. Yeah, we.

[Interviewer]

Or they just didn't have the.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You know, it is a public.

[Interviewer]

The main.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, I mean, yeah, but UCLA is a nice area. It's Pasadena for sure.

[Interviewer]

But as far as, like, calling the shots, the big wigs, like, hey, fair enough. Football over everything. We'll find a way.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Very, very academically driven.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yes, very academically.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Not every school can do both like Michigan.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It is. You're right.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

From a sports standpoint.

[Interviewer]

Finding all the edges.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Signals.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You brought up a PFF. What's your, what's your stance on PFF's rating system?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I think there's value in a baseline. Like, there is some things that you can, you can, you can look at it and there's a number that they, they assign to particularly to some positions that are really hard for like the average person to have any idea what is good and bad. But as far as, like, is it the end all, be all in the grading system? Not at all. I mean, it's. You got to watch the game. You have to understand assignments. And they've gotten better. I will say, like the, the grading system has gotten better over the years. They've refined it. I use it more for some of the. Just the amount of data that they have. I can go, let me see every screen from every team for the last four years and I can pull them all up and watch them all. Yeah. And that's where the value and that is for me, the grades. I don't really, you know, I don't really put a whole lot of stock in the grades.

[Interviewer]

It feels like they'll probably use the grades like have that there and then obviously every team does their own and then I'm sure that they.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

There's a benchmark a little bit. Yeah. Yeah, there's a benchmark. I mean, it does give you. It is. It is a halfway accurate depiction of what a. What a good and bad might look like. You know what I mean?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah. If it's cut and dry. But the gray areas, I feel like is where pff, because they're not there with the language of the play call and what the exact technique is. But to do that makes it more. I don't hate BFF at all. But there was a, like, there was a time where players, players in the locker room at the Titans were like, kind of worried that if their PFF grade was bad that teams and coaches were looking at that. Do coaches look at the PFF grade.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Ever and go, no, no, no.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Maybe we should. Maybe we're doing something wrong?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No, I don't think so. I've never looked at it like that. Yeah. I've not been around anybody that ever has used that as like, that's our grade for a player. You still grade a player. Watch the tape and understand what's being asked systematically as well, other than just, hey, this Guy graded at a 82.6. Like, I don't know what that means. That's a good number.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's a good number.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

If you got the 82.6.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, it's a solid number.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You wouldn't be so mad about it, I'm sure.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, no doubt.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No doubt.

[Interviewer]

It'd be the time where you feel strongly about pff, but then you grayed out. Well, so then it's like, all right, where are you gonna stand? You know what I mean? Like, say you hate PFF, but they're giving you 95. It's like.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Well, I mean, I did have a situation.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

They might be onto something. Ye.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I had a situation in 2016 where they were grading me well. And then Paul Kaharski and the. The group of the Titans news guys were like, how do you feel about that? And I. I took a stance then and there. They don't. They don't run the show.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

They don't run the show big. Quickly. My grades went down, so I don't know. Yeah, that's where the mana kind of started. Yeah, it might be a little bit of ticking over there.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

With your. Throughout your coaching journey, you've been at some cool spots. Which spot or stop that you've been at has you feel like has been the most pivotal for where you are now?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

God. They've all. All for different reasons, have been really, really influential. The two. The. The two of the most are. Are my time in Denver with Peyton Manning for four of those six years I was there. And then the journey in Cincinnati, from where we started to where we ended up, those two spots were probably the most. Because they're the longest days I had. They were the most influential. Obviously, being around Peyton Manning for any amount of time is a. Is a blessing in and of itself, but, yeah, he's. That was like a PhD.

[Interviewer]

We. We grow them here at the bus. The fly that keeps flying around.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

We'll do fly farming.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Look, you don't have any cicadas in here yet.

[Interviewer]

I know, brother. Everywhere out here. Dude. Watching Peyton in that last year where he necessarily couldn't throw it beyond 5, 10 yards. What was it like sitting backwards? Yeah, I mean, I'm sure he'd say it, but watching him operate from being more limited than he ever has.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, it was really. It was a. That was a wild year because we had just transitioned from. In a. Gary Kubiak was the head coach, and then he brought that whole system, which was vastly different from the one that he had run for the better part of 18 years at that point. And so there was a big back and forth there. He had gotten injured that year and missed a bunch of time and then came back for the playoffs at the very end. Brock Oswald, I think had thrown a couple interceptions and they replaced him at halftime right at the very end of the season and like a must win game against the Chargers. And then he ended up playing the playoffs. So it just, it was a roller coaster season. It was a lot of ups and downs. But what the cool part was, you saw what made him so great was his ability to process and know what to do and when to do it in the moment. Like it was unbelievable. And even with a diminishing physical skill set that he wasn't what he was when he was in his 20s. I mean, it was unbelievable what he pulled off with his brain and just being able to know what to do with the football.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stan was without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

American history is full of wise people. Walt Whitman said something like, you know, 99.99% of war is diarrhea and 1% is glory.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Those founding fathers were gossipy AF and they love to cut each other down.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, the show where you send us your questions about American history and I find the answers, including the nuggets of wisdom our history has to offer.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Hamilton pauses and then he says, the greatest man that ever lived was Julius Caesar. And Jefferson writes in his diary, this proves that Hamilton is for a dictator based on corruption.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

My favorite line was what Neil Armstrong said. It would have been harder to fake it than to do it. Listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Dan, he's Ty.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Hello.

[Jake Hofer]

And we're the Solid Verbal College football podcast. College football season is here and you.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Know what that means.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Your team is going to break your.

[Jake Hofer]

Heart three times probably before Halloween.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Uh huh.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

But fear not, the solid verbal will be right there with you through every.

[Jake Hofer]

Soul crushing loss and impossible Comeback. Join us all season long, all year long, as we ride the rollercoaster of this ridiculous sport. Whether you're a die hard fan or a casual observer, we'll help you make.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Sense of all the chaos and of.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Course, celebrate the madness. Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the.

[Jake Hofer]

Emotional support you need as a college football fan. We don't just love college football, Ty, we live it. Listen to the solid verbal college football.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Podcasts on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Interviewer]

What's he like watching at practice? Like, I've had teammates who have played with him and they're like, you know, if a tight end drops the ball, he'll take, he'll take the, he'll remove the tight end. Even if, even if you're back there, like, oh, no, get back out there. The sheriff's like, no, no, give me somebody else who's going to catch the ball and be dependable in these moments. Like, what was he like?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

That's what it was. It was, There was a standard. And it's actually funny, we're having a conversation today about guys that are like, that get to that point in their careers that have the pelts on the wall and the experience, but on top of that, the pressure, you know, the expectation is that they're going to win every game. Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, those guys get to a certain point in their career where they don't allow anything other than what the highest standard is possible. And if you don't meet it, you're not going to be playing with them. Yeah. And that's how he operated and, and I appreciated that because he's got all the pressure. He's got. I gotta, I gotta do my part. And if I'm, if I'm gonna do all this, then I'm gonna make sure that everybody around me is, is at the same level that I am. And I thought that was a really cool thing to witness in person, but that's how it would be if you didn't, if you missed an assignment. He was particularly ruthless on, like, running backs and protection, and he had to be able to trust him to do because he didn't, you know, he don't want to get hit. Right. And if they missed an assignment, it was like, give me the next one. Or like, if he's, if he's coming in to the game, I'll come out, you know, like, yeah, that. It was that intensity and the expectation.

[Interviewer]

He'S coming into the game. Coach Kelly, you don't put him in the game, I'll be out.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Yeah. If I see him coming on the field, you'll see me walking off. Yeah, it. So that part was just. It's just a demand of the standard of what you expect every day. And it was awesome. And again, everybody rose to meet it. You know, we had young players and Eric Decker and Damaris Thomas and C.J. anderson. I mean, we had some guys that. That were unproven at the time, that he helped make what they became. And it was a really cool process to be a part of. Man, he's unlike anybody I've ever been around.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

What's it like with the coaches during practice when he's sending a guy away and the coach is like, no, you're in. And there's like this kind of this battle of egos between the sheriff and a coach. Does it get uncomfortable at all? Is there, like, in the meeting room.

[Interviewer]

Like, this guy, you know, who's calling the shots?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Can we be honest about it?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, we can. Absolutely. This is.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It's. It's. If. If he doesn't want him in, he's not going to be hit.

[Interviewer]

Whether coaches aren't saying a word, like.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, yeah, you're probably right.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I mean, that's just what. That's just what it was, and that's why. And you. And you. And it wasn't like that all the time, but, like, there was. There was a standard, and if you didn't meet it, the expectation was that you wouldn't be. You wouldn't be there playing with them. But that's also what drove guys to be even better than they thought they could be, was because they wanted to be a part of it, and they wanted to be in that mode. They wanted to be counted on. And it's amazing what happens when you got a guy making sure that you better do it right or you can't be counted. It drives you to be great.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Truthfully, you. So you had Peyton Manning, and then you go to Cincinnati and you get blessed with Joe Cool. Joe Burrow.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

What is Joe Staff in Detroit?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

The two years in Detroit were phenomenal. It was slingers. I. God, Matthews. I talk about underrated, man. Like, I think he's one of the best quarterbacks in football and has been for a long time, and I think he finally gets his due. But there was a while there where he didn't. And he might be one of the toughest players I've ever been around. And One of the most crazy talented quarterbacks that I've seen play. I mean he's unbelievable.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That clip of them in like a two minute drive to win the game and he like gets his shoulder out or something like that and he's on the sideline like, you know that was.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Early in his career. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yes. That was like just one of the cooler things you see a quarterback do because he's like hurt and he's like, I'll do it. And he throws a touchdown. The game's over, they win. He's like, shoulder bro.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I think it was bro. And he broke his collarbone.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

No.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, I think that's what it was if I remember correctly. Yeah. But yeah, he, he's. You want to talk about. I mean you guys know the things that guys play through that people don't know about is. It would be shocking I think if people knew what guys dealt with during a football season. And the things that he played through and the toughness that he had. It was. Might be the toughest guy I've ever seen. I mean truthfully, he's unbelievable. Oh yeah, he is. He is hard nosed, tough as I'll get out and he's a awesome guy to be around. I don't know how much time you guys have spent with him, but I've.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Never, I don't think I've met him.

[Interviewer]

He's phenomenal either. No, no, you just hear, you hear stories just like that all the time.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Why do you think he was still underrated for so long? Just because the franchise.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, yeah. They didn't win enough. You know, and that's again it's a. The wins tend to become a quarterback stat which they probably shouldn't be. But there he was on teams that were probably on the. On the brink and could never quite get over that hump. And. And then obviously he goes to LA and he's been lightning on fire since every time. I mean he's been unbelievable there wins the Super Bowl. Although like it's. He's finally I think getting his due as a player. But yeah, he was that player before he got to la. He just didn't probably get the recognition for it.

[Interviewer]

And then you get Joby.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yes. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You've been around some cats.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I've been very lucky. I've been very lucky.

[Interviewer]

Matt Stafford.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Joe Burrow. What are the similarities that all three of those guys have? And then you talked about a little bit on the way that staff was. Peyton was. And then also some differences with Joe.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

B. Yeah, I think it was. It Was very different because Peyton was obviously going in. I think when he came to Denver, that was like year 15 when I went was when I was with Matthew. I think Matthew was going into like 7, 8, 7, 8, 9, 10 somewhere. He was. He had been playing for a couple of years and then having Joe was different because Joe was a rookie. Obviously a highly, highly regarded in his reputation preceded him when he got drafted. But yeah, he was still a rookie and so that was a really fun process to try to help that development from being a rookie. And as you guys know, rookies are. Rookies, no matter how good they are, still takes some time. Yeah. But to see him become everything that we thought he could become and he knew he could become was pretty awesome. And that's because he shares a lot of the same traits that, that Peyton and Matthew have in terms of, you know, there's just an edge to the. There's just something about those guys and you know it when you see it where they just don't accept anything other than the best. And there is no such thing as failure. Like they do not. They're you. They won't fail. They can't fail. And there's, there's a willpower in that. I think that's kind of the baseline of who they are. And then there's a drive to be the best. There is.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And there's just. And then he has the ability to deliver on it, which is pretty cool. Very different personality than Peyton and Matthew. Right. They're all very unique, but they, they share that commonality where they're, they're at their core. They are, they are assassins.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

When did you. When Joe, When Joe walks into the, the Bengals franchise and you say it takes rookies, doesn't matter how good they are, it takes them a little bit of time. When did you know? Okay, we got the franchise quarterbacks probably.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

About halfway through that first year where you're still kind of figuring some things out. Obviously it's a coveted year, so it's even more challenging. So he has no off season. We don't have any OTAs. There's. It's all virtual.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

God, imagine picking up a playbook. Yeah, that'd be so hard.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And. And then there's no fans in the stadium. So his first game, we play the Chargers and this was the game where Tyrod got injected and they punctured his lung. Yeah. So then it was Herbert and him playing and Joe goes down at the very end of the game. It would have been like the legend of Joe Burrow would Have only grown into the game. Goes down, throws a fade stop to AJ Green in the corner of the end zone. And they call us for Opi. So the, the game winning touchdown gets called back. So we go kick a field goal to tie it. And our kicker cramped and missed the game winning field goal. There's no, there's nobody in the stands. Cramps and we miss. And so here's this, like, here's this, like, busting out of the scene. Here comes Joe Burrow. Come back, win. Last minute win in his first start. And it just, it isn't. Yeah. And it was like, that's, that's, that's unfortunate. You saw a glimpse of that in that, in that drive, like, oh, this guy. It's going to be pretty good, I think. And then each game he successively got better. And I think the one A game you probably, you played in potentially, I think Tennessee came to Cincinnati and we had lost. I think we had five new starters up front. And then we had signed Quentin Spain on Friday, and he started at left guard. Q Spain on Sunday.

[Interviewer]

Q. Spain, yes.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And so we had, we had a guy that hadn't practiced with us, and we had five new starters. And that was the game where Joe sort of took it on and took it on his back, and we ended up winning the game. We played pretty well. And it was that game when it was like, he's arrived.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

This is the guy.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He is what we thought he was going to be. And then he goes and plays good for another, I think maybe one more week, two more weeks, and he gets hurt in Washington and tears his knee up. And so the season. But he was. We were hitting this rise. We were, we were going to win. I think we would have won a handful of games on a stretch, and I think people would have looked like, oh, here he comes. But he gets hurt and it's not. Nobody knows how good he's really going to be. And he ultimately sacrificed his knee for Jamar Chase because that allowed us. We were not very good after that. And we picked Jamar the next year at the fifth overall.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

But a lot of stuff came up in that draft where when, when he gets hurt, everyone's like, they need protection. You just said all the offensive linemen are out. You sign a guy off the streets, he comes and starts for you that week, and you guys go pick Jamar Chase. What was the thought process in that building when you're evaluating because you're thinking franchise quarterback, we know this is the guy we got to get him. Offensive lineman.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. What was. It was Penne Sewell. It was Penne and Jamar. That was like the big debate. It's like, how do the. How can the Bengals not draft a left tackle?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Looking back on, you can't go wrong. Like both those pictures.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, both of me. Like, these guys are going to both be all pro players.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Right.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And whoever you pick was going to be right. But you. We went back and forth and there was plenty of debate, plenty of. Of opinion on it. And ultimately I, I had went back to my time in Denver when we had demarius Thomas, Eric Decker, and then Emmanuel Sanders, and then in the slot we had Wes Welker and we were.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

We were deadly combo.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And it was so good.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Nasty, underrated.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, very, very good player. And we, we had a game against New England when we were in Denver, down the stretch, and it was two. It was back to back plays or maybe two out of three plays. End of the game, we had to go win the game. And we hit two goalballs down, one each, one each side. I think one was demarius, one was to Emmanuel, and it was like, man, when you got to win versus press coverage, doesn't matter who you have up front, if you can't have a guy that can go win that matchup, you're going to have a hard time throwing the ball to win in the NFL. And that always just stuck with me. And I always thought that was a good way to build an offense, is that make sure you have guys that can win. And we get in this debate back and forth about the tackle and the receiver, and I was like, well, I said, if he can win fast enough, it's not going to matter how long we block. If he can win quick, we can get the ball out quick. And one of the things that Joe does so well is play on time and process. And so the ball gets distributed. It's like, well, we can negate some of the offensive line issues if we got elite playmakers outside. And that was my stance. And then a couple other people had it, some didn't have that. So it went back and forth. But ultimately we landed on Jamar would be the, the guy that scores touchdowns would. Would be one that would be more helpful for our offense, and thank God we did.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

So you were the guy that brought Jamar to Cincinnati.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I'm not going to claim that. I'm not going to claim I did not. I'm just telling you my perspective on the argument was that, yeah, and I voiced that. I mean, that was my prerogative to Voice it as a coordinator. And I think Zach felt the same way. Zach Taylor, I think he landed on that same argument. So the two of us sort of were in agreement, but ultimately it was, that's a Zach Taylor, Duke Tobin and Mike Brown decision that gets made. But that's. That was the argument back and forth.

[Interviewer]

In the most fiery or drama filled moment in a war room that you've seen.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Hold on, can I just. Did you guys talk to Joe Burrow at all about, hey, should we go tackle wide receiver being a rookie but knowing he's your friend?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, Joe was involved. We kept Joe in the loop on all the personnel decisions and the thought process. And we obviously talked to him a lot because he knew Jamar and so Jamar didn't. If you, if you remember, Jamar didn't play that year because it was covered year and he sat out. And so there wasn't any recent film on him other than the year that he was tearing up the SEC with Joe killing it. And so Joe was like, Joe didn't. Joe's like, I'll take Jamar every, every day and twice on Sunday. Like, yeah, it's not even a debate for him. He. Because he knew what he was, he knew how impactful he could be. And so Joe was all in favor of Jamar in that situation. And I'm glad he was. I love it.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Sorry for cutting you off. I just want to make sure you.

[Interviewer]

Get that same question. Yeah, most fiery or drama filled tense moment in a war room that you, that you've been a part of or witnessed.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You know, not all. There hasn't been as many or somebody.

[Interviewer]

You look back, you're like, man, maybe they should. We should have took that guy.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, there's always that. I mean, I would say the debates between the players that were available to us in at pick five that year was pretty intense. I mean, there was some guys that felt like Kyle Pitts was a really fantastic prospect coming out and he was the Penne Sewell. Those, the other guys that were involved was obviously Devonta Smith and Jalen Waddle were both in that conversation. So those were pretty, those were pretty intense conversations because guys were pretty convicted on what they thought those players can be. And so I remember a good couple back and forth on some of those debates on this player over this player. And ultimately when you look back, like, well, we weren't going to be wrong either way. All those guys ended up being great players. So nobody was wrong in that regard. But when you're debating on who to pick and do you take Penne Sewell or do you, do you take Penny Seoul and try to take Devonta Smith? And you know, what's the. What, what player are you looking at? And you obviously account for some of those quarterbacks going and you look at the world of player you're in and you got to debate like hell. And those usually means that you made the best decision too, because you've, you fleshed out all the, all the good and bads and pros and cons of all the players and. But those were pretty intense. Those debates are pretty intense. Those are the ones that I remember the most because you're picking in at five. That's a, that should be a Hall of Fame style player and you can't get it wrong.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

With, with that clock ticking down at 5, how long did that discussion go before someone's like, hey, we got to call this thing in? Or was it pretty decided when four was picked? You kind of knew, all right, you.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Once you knew the, where the players. Because we weren't sure who was going to go. We weren't sure if Jamal's gonna go to Atlanta. You didn't know, you didn't know if Miami was going to try to trade up. There was a whole lot of stuff going on that until you're on the clock, you don't know. But the decision had been made prior to the draft even starting that if this, this is the order we're going to go in. If this is Jamar's there, we're taking them. If Jamar's not there, we're taking Panay. If those two are both gone, we're taking this guy. So that stuff all gets settled out prior to the draft even starting when.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You, when you hearing you talk about the Bengals and how you guys established your offense gets me fired up for the Titans because you're seeing how you view the field, how you feel you need guys to win and press one on one coverage and you're getting all these athletes in there, all. You have so many, so much talent on the offensive side of the ball now. Like, what's the expectation we should be having for the Titans? Are we winning it all this year? Is this it?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You know, I tell our guys, should.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I tell Jack and Garrett back there, who've been Titans fans since the inception of Tennessee, that we're going to win the Super Bowl?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I tell our guys all the time that we don't make any, any predictions or promises. So, so I, I certainly can't step out here and that's good media. Anything other than that. I will say this, though. I am excited about what we've done. The players we've added, I think they're all, you know, we added with Calvin Ridley and, and Tyler Boyd and. And D. Hop coming back and Tony Pollard. Mix mixing him with. With Taj Spears, and you get a chance to draft J.C. latham, and you got year two for Peter Skronsky, and now you go sign Lloyd Cushionberry at the center. Like, I feel like there's some. There's some really exciting pieces that, you know, if we can put it all together, I think we have a chance. And obviously, I believe in Will Levis. It's a large reason why I took the job, is that I think he's capable of being a really good player, and he is not disappointed so far in the offseason program. He's fantastic, does everything you ask the way you want it. And I'm. I'm excited to see what we have. I'll just. I'll leave it at that. I think we. We can. I think we can put together a competitive football team.

[Interviewer]

What do you see in Will Levis? Because again, we just rattled off three guys that you've been around. Peyton Manning, Matt Stafford, Joe Burrow. What do you see similarly with. With Will?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

The. The. The drive. He's got the drive. He wants to be a great player. He wants to do whatever it takes to be a great player. I think one of the cool things about watching Will get to play last year and in some pretty adverse circumstances is you saw his toughness, you know, and I think that's kind of a common theme with these guys is they all have this kind of innate toughness that guys rally around. You know, when you see. When you see a quarterback out there, you know, diving for a first down or. Or taking a shot, making a great throw as he's taking one on the chin. That's the kind of guy you want to play for, right? Like, you go. You go. Yeah, let's. I can do this. That's got. This guy can do enough for me to play hard with. And you saw all those things on tape last year, and you saw his physical talent. Obviously, I don't want him jumping and diving and flipping around for first downs because.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Dipping his right shoulder.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, let's not do that. Let's not do that. Let's. That's. That's. That's the. That's the brand. I mean, you need that thing to work, so we'll try to lessen some of that, but I Think he's proven his toughness to the. To the guys in the team and the people in the NFL look at him and go, all right, this guy, he's got a chance. Now. Let's give him as much talent around him as possible and see if we can help him with a system offensively to have some success. And he's got all the traits that you look for, though, as far as the drive and determination to be great is there. And that's. That's exciting.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

With the. With Ran, like, you walk into the building and for the nine years I was with the Titans, like, day one and two of free agency, nothing ever happened with the Titans, we kind of just sit back, let the first wave go, and you kind of pick pieces up in the middle market. You guys came and started just cleaning house immediately. Do you. And Ran, how clear is your guys's conversation of where you want the direction to go? Like, how are you guys just on the same page?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Him and I hit it off in the interview process, and he was a guy that. That I just connected with immediately. You know, you meet people and you just. There's just something about the connection. You're like, this is this kind of person I want to go to work with every day. And it has been that way from the minute we stepped on our first ZOOM interview through today. It's been everything I thought it would be in terms of our working relationship and our vision and how we want to execute the vision and what it's going to take to get the team competitive to where we feel like we can contend for the division and for the playoffs and ultimately for super bowl someday, that we've been on the same page with everything, and it's been really, really fun. Like, it's not like that everywhere, as you guys know. You don't always get that connection. And it's. It's been incredible. And he's got a great feel for what football is supposed to look like. We see it the same way. And, man, when you go into a free agency period, and you're. And you're in lockstep and. And with Chad Brinker as well, you're like, this is the direction we're heading. You feel really good about it. And then the coolest part about it is you get to a certain point in free agency where things don't always. You know, we didn't get everybody we initially thought we were going to get. And so a guy goes here and a guy goes there, and. And now you look around. Well, the difference in the good teams and free agency is how fast do you pivot? And so we, we lose two or three guys and all of a sudden we look up and we're like, we should probably check in on Calvin Ridley and see where that's at. You know, we got some, we got money we didn't think we were going to have. We lost a guy or two that we thought we were going to give back and we didn't. Let's, let's, let's check in. Let's see where it's at. And so then that process started and kind of swooped in in the middle of the night and stole Calvin out of there. And that was because you just, you got a fluid, you're able to pivot. Yeah. You have a, you have a plan in place, and when the plan doesn't go exactly the same, you know where the next spot is. And I thought Ram was masterful in the free agency process. Got it.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer, and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

Sometimes it's hard to remember, but going.

[Interviewer]

Through something like that is a traumatic.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Experience, but it's also not the end of your life.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

That was my dad reminding me and so many others who need to hear it that our trauma is not our shame to carry and that we have big, bold and beautiful lives to live after what happened to us. I'm your host and co president of this organization, Dr. Leah Tritate. On my new podcast, the Unwanted Sorority, we wade through transformation to peel back healing and reveal what it actually looks like and sounds like in real time. Each week, I sit down with people who've lived through harm, carried silence, and are now reshaping the systems that failed us. We're going to talk about the adultification of black girls mothering as resistance, and the tools we use for healing. The Unwanted Sorority is a safe space, not a quiet space. So let's lock in. We're moving towards liberation together. Listen to the Unwanted Sorority. New episodes every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

A foot washed up, a shoe with Some bones in it. They had no idea who it was.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Most everything was burned up pretty good from the fire that not a whole lot was salvageable.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

These are the coldest of cold cases. But everything is about to change.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Every case that is a cold case that has DNA right now in a backlog will be identified in a.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

A small lab in Texas is cracking the code on DNA using new scientific tools. They're finding clues in evidence so tiny you might just miss it.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He never thought he was going to get caught. And I just looked at my computer screen, I was just like, ah, gotcha.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

On America's Crime Lab, we'll learn about victims and survivors and you'll meet the team behind the scenes at othram, the Houston lab that takes on the most hopeless cases to finally solve the unsolvable. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you.

[Interviewer]

Get your podcasts with, with like your philosophies and the way you want to kind of cultivate your first job being a head coach, like what you inherited with the Titans from the familiar faces who are still here. What are some of the directions and vision you wanted to kind of take this team internally in the building.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

From what you had understood most previously.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Well, I think the, the thing about the, the Titans, I think history of the, of the organization in Nashville is that it's always been a tough ass team. You know, regardless of, of the players that have been on the team, there's just a, there's been a, a tradition of, of this toughness. Every time we ever played Tennessee, it was like, buckle up boys. Like you're going to get, you're going to get every, it's going to be everything you got, everything they got. And it's going to come down to the end. And that's how I've always viewed the Titans every time we've ever played them. For the years that I've been in the NFL, it's just, there's always been good players here. It's always been tough teams. They've always been well coached. And that part is the part you want to stay. That's sort of like an ethos of the organization. You want that to be a part of who they always are, regardless of who's in charge. And the other part that I believe in is that you want guys that love being around each other, that love being in the building together, and you want an environment that they love working with their coaches too. And so there's a, there's a feeling that you want when you. When you wake up in the morning and you got to go to work. And there's. It's one of two ways. Either you're like, man, I want to go to work today.

[Interviewer]

I've been there a couple times.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Or it's like. Like, hell, yeah, I can't wait to get to work. And that's the. What. What I. What I'm going for is that second option where guys wake up and can't wait to be in the building because they love what they're doing and who they're doing it with, and there's a connection amongst the people that are doing it with. I think that's what's unique about where we are in Tennessee now with Rand and myself, is that it's a very open building, and there's. There's a lot of back and forth. Like, you see Ram walking in the hallways, and he's out at practice, and he's dapping guys up, and he's talking to him in the lunchroom, and. And I'm around, and I'm visible, and there's. Our personalities play off each other. And I think we hired a coaching staff that's the same way. And I hope the players feel that when they're in the building. I think if you ask most of them, they would feel, at least to start. That's how it feels. But I want guys that love coming to work and playing football together, because everybody's got money, everybody's got talent. And I think that's what separates teams, is what kind of locker room do you have, what kind of people are in the building? And I think that's what matters the most.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Well, we. When we went into the franchise to the facility, it seemed like everybody was way more loose. Guys were coming up to us saying, hey, like, it's different. Like, things that. The energy is different. There's a higher vibe here that doesn't take away from anything from John and Brave.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Like, they.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

There was a Patriots way type of vibe where buttholes are tight when you go into a team meeting and you know you can get exposed if you have a bad play at practice. So it was like, everyone's got to be on their shit to know that on Sunday we got to go win. Like, how long. Once you got in the building and got with the guys, did you see the transition of them, like, letting their shoulders down, letting their guard down a little bit? I'd be like, okay, we can. We can mix it up a little.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Bit with the coach yeah, because head.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Ball coach in a gm, that's. That's a tough two guys to mix it up with and feel comfortable. Unless you're like a vet that's been in the game for a long time.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And. And I still feel like guys get nervous sometimes around me, and I don't. It's new for me being in the role, too. I realize how much you want the position. I'm learning more about the, The. The weight of my words and my interactions and how much it matters to guys when maybe you don't think twice about it, but it might be the only time you interact with the head coach, the. For a week and like that. That sticks with guys. I remember, even as a player, how that would stick with me. And I'm much more mindful of that now than maybe I ever was. And I'm learning even as the days go by, it stands out sometimes. But I think that there's a lot of ways to. To win in the NFL. There's not one set way that you have to take. And I think as long as you're kind of authentic to what you believe in, you. You can. You can build the program in the image that you think is the right way. And I just believe that there's a. When you come to work and there's a. There's a looseness and, And. And a joy in the process. It makes a really hard profession a little less hard. And I think when you get into the. The part that when it is really hard, when you're in December and it's tough and you're banged up and it hurts to go practice every day, there's something other than the money motivating you to go out there and. And play with the boys. Right? I mean, that's kind of what. That's what you want. And yeah, I think an environment that's got some joy to it and some fun and some energy, I think, takes a little bit the edge off of how hard it can be. And it can be hard. You know, it's. Even when everything's great, even when everything works well, there's always days where it's hard. And I think that if you have a locker room in a building that's conducive to a little bit of fun and excitement and authentic. I mean, I am who I am. I'm going to. I don't want to try to be anybody else. And, yeah, that's just always been my personality. And I think that hopefully that, that, that shows up and in what our team looks like, yeah, you ain't lying.

[Interviewer]

I mean, the playing football every day is as a grinder, especially, like, you're saying later in the year, it gets dark a little earlier. You're feeling all your nicks.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That last week of October is, like, the worst.

[Interviewer]

Is he going to horse up with a walkthrough today or have to lace them up? And you're right to like, jokes. You might say as a position coach or coordinator might hit a little differently to an athlete. But if you're saying a joke as a head coach, like, the athlete could be driving home, like, fuck, does he think I'm just like, right? You're in your own head. But if he gives you something positive. I remember Shanahan one time, he came up all interception machine. This was, like, my rookie year. I had had two interceptions in a practice. I just remember just riding on cloud nine thinking, like, yo, the head ball coach noticed me, you know?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, yeah.

[Interviewer]

So it's got to be, like, interesting knowing that your words do carry, like, a different weight. That part is everybody.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. I. If I walked in one day, I walked in to talk to one of the assistant coaches like, I normally would, like when I was a coordinator, and I'm kind of busting balls, but I kind of see, like, the reaction on his face was like, oh, what? Like, did I do something wrong? Am I in trouble? And I was like, oh, I probably shouldn't. I probably need to probably tone that one down and.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Make it. Make it not feel so.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Like, tone it down or tell whoever that is. Don't be so soft. Yeah, we're having a good time here. It's gonna be all right.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Jay would be talking about me making plays in space. I would literally just beg, man. I know the front office, though, the whole coaching stuff must think I just can't tackle in space. But you're just in your head.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

In your head about everything.

[Interviewer]

He just said that joke, like, I know.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I don't think people understand how much mental warfare goes on between players and coaches.

[Interviewer]

No.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I don't know if y' all try to do mental warfare, but I just don't.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I'd rather not. I'd prefer not to do that if I can't.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It's just so difficult, though, because you write, like, the. The words of a head coach when you say anything, like, no line coaches do. You could easily write that off at whatever head coaches it to you. You're calling your girlfriend, your wife, family members. Like, you said this. Like, what do you think? Good, bad, or ugly?

[Interviewer]

You're doing whatever you can entire off season. You're working on that one thing that was kind of said.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Right. And it just rings in your brain forever.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And then as a head, as a head coach, it might even. He might not even have thought twice about what. No, it might have just been like a passing comment and all of a sudden you're just like. You just all in your head about whatever it was that was said and the head coach might have forgot he even said it. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You know, you talk about having fun. What's your stance on rookie shows?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I love rookie shows.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You're about them.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I'm about them. I love rookie show. Pro rookie show. However, Caveat is your 20, 24 is about to show. There's. There's. I've not been the. The recent rookie shows that I've been around. Subpar need. The rookies need a little help from some guys out there in the world that know what a rookie show is supposed to look like and I've just not been. Not been impressed with some of the things. They're just not funny.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And there's nothing worse than going like Ricky said, you're amped up. Like I can't wait to see who they. Who do they go after? Yeah. It's like they're kind of. They get scared. You can't be scared. You should know as good as anybody. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

I was gonna say you let me sit around training camp for a couple weeks, you'll have.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You'll have a few down. Yeah, I guess some impress. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Get some mannerisms of yours and I'll just go after you.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I'll just go.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Going after the head ball coach is the best thing to do as a rookie by far. But it's also the scariest thing to do as a rookie.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Also true.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You got to find that sweet balance. You gotta be in good graces with you but also find all the ammo you possibly can.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

But if. If you can get a good rookie show is. Is maybe one of the better, one of the finer things in life that you.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Sets the tone for the whole.

[Interviewer]

Especially when you're in the suck of training camp.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Oh yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's like the ending though. Like you're like everyone's kind of excited to get out of there. This is going to set the tone for the first game of the season.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Here we go.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

We're all together for the last time before cuts. Let's see what we're going to get.

[Interviewer]

If any rookies are watching this study Coach Callahan and go after him during the rookie show.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Have to.

[Interviewer]

Have to.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Have to, like, go too hard. Like, make it the roast of Tom Brady. Go to family.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

All of it, every year. Just. Just lay it all out there and just. Just hope the reaction is good.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah. Oh, go ahead.

[Interviewer]

I was just going to say who are, in your opinion, the funnier guys on the team.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Team. I'm still getting to know. I'm getting to know more personalities as the. As the days go by, it sure seems like Arden Keys got enough personality for everybody, which is great. I love it. I enjoy the personality part. Like, I love guys that got something to them and make it fun. Like, that's. That's awesome. I love when guys feel like they can be themselves. AR's probably the one that stands out the most. Taj Spears. Taj's got a good. Taj's got a good kind of a. He's quiet, but he's got a little personality that pops up every now and again. Still trying to figure out which offensive lineman's got it. You know, they're so. They're. They're. Every day is like a new day for them. Right now with coach Bill. I don't know if you'll find some personality, but there's some guys I think that are. That are candidates for it, but generally tends to be the defensive guys that have the most personality and then they're least afraid to show it. So I think that there might be a few of those guys, but I'm hoping that some of these rookies come with something good in August.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I mean, that's what they got to be most focused on. Like, playbook comes second to the rookie show.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Make sure that you have that rookie entertainer. You enter the ball club.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Entertain.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, entertain me.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

We're in an entertainment business.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, exactly.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

With being a head coach for the first time and taking the first team meeting, addressing the team, what are the nerves like? Because every head coach I've ever had, it's a lot.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

There's some. There's some nerves in there for sure. I bet. Because you want to make. You want to make a good impression where. And again, we've had, like 12 team meetings since the first one. So, like, the. The novelty does wear off, like, after you get to the first one. But that first one, you spend a ton of time thinking about, and you just want to make sure that when you come in there that the guys look at you and go, yeah, I like this guy. I'm. I'm willing to listen. As you guys know, you can come in there sometimes and maybe the first ones rubs you the wrong way and you're kind of like, I don't know about this cat, you know, like.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And so that's. You just want to make an impression good enough to where you've bought everyone's attention for another week, you know. Right. And. And hopefully they continue making sure everybody.

[Interviewer]

Has the same facial expression as the first time. You know, you're not losing the crowd.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Right. And I try to be. My team meetings, I try to be to the point, you know, I don't, I don't. I'm not a preacher, you know, I don't, I don't need to. But I do have messaging that I want to get across. And so I spend a lot of time thinking about the messaging and what I'm going to say and hopefully that in a, in a very short 8 to 10 minutes I can convey whatever that is for the day. And I only have one a week, so I don't overdo it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, nobody.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Nobody wants to hear me talk that much. I know that in the fall you.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Only have one a week.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

In the fall when the season starts, it'll be a Wednesday and a Friday.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Wednesday and a Friday Wednesday, Thursday to the rest of the squad.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, Thursdays is a. Is the own day. And then you have something the night before which can be sometimes as short as two minutes or you may go a little longer if it's a. Depending on the mood of the team and the game you're getting ready to play. But try to try to limit the amount of times I have to go preach in front of everybody.

[Interviewer]

What kind of coach are you night before a game?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Dude, I was just thinking the same thing.

[Interviewer]

Like are we watching a movie scene?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I got that.

[Interviewer]

I love something like what are. What's your go to's, bro?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I very much try to keep like the. The pulse of like what we might. What you might need for that week. You know, I did something kind of similar with a. In Cincinnati on Saturday mornings I would do this tie in of the game plan and I would mix in whatever messaging I thought was, you know, might hit home.

[Interviewer]

Give an example. Like, like this messaging.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

This movie scene.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

If it's movies. No, I used. Actually used quite a bit of the. The man in the arena documentary one year. I kind of took pieces of it over the course of the season. And then like every other week I might have something from that. That. Because there was just so many good things from that documentary I thought about like what a championship team would feel like. And so I try to use as many mediums as I can to help convey whatever message I'd be trying to convey. And I even do that now. I had one even for our rookie meeting. There's this clip on the Internet with. There's a ball boy a handful of years ago, one of the soccer teams, I think it might have been like Tottenham where this ball boy is like super dialed into his job and he gets the ball, it's on a throw in, but the ball comes out of bounds and he has one in his hand and he's just. His job is to get it to that guy as quick as possible. Well, he jumps out of his seat, tosses the ball to the guy, they throw it in on like a fast break and they score because they catch team in transition because this ball boy is like on top of his.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I think I've seen that clip.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, you've probably. It was, it was viral. It was viral. But it's, it's, it's out there. And I showed it to the rookies and I was like, this is like, talk about finding a role and doing it well. Like here's this 10 year old ball boy or 13 year old ball boy that knows that if I do my job really well, it's going to help us. And. Oh yeah, that's it.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Don't they bring him to the locker room after this?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Give him like a jersey.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. And so like things like, things like that. It's wild. It was, I mean it's, you know, and then, and the manager goes over like look at how fast in the transition, right? Balls in his hand, he's running, they're on sides. And then he ends up with a. Hitting him in transition for a score. And like I think it was a huge game too. So then the manager's dapping them up and like things like that. If I can, anything I can find, I, I use quotes from guys in the NBA. I've used Steph Curry, anything that reinforces the message. And like I told, I showed the rookies that and it was like, look man, find whatever your role is, wherever that whatever's asked of you, like make it the most important thing. And if you have a chance to make a play and you make the play, that's how you get recognized. And so it was stuff like that. I can fire and brimstone it pretty good when I want to, but I try to save those in my back.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Pocket for a rainy day.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

For. Yeah, for when you really need it.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

When you talk about playing the Tennessee Titans held like it was effort, toughness and they were very well coached.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yes.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

What are the core values you're seeking to bring in with the Tennessee Titans with this new wave?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Just in terms of like what, what I want our team to look like.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

The things you're going to preach, like usually a lot of times, like coaches have, like these are three things that we are going to be built on as our foundation as a team. Like as you being the head coach of Tennessee Titans. Like what are those three pillars or however many pillars.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, there's, there's, there's a little bit of nuance to it, but the, the main one is we have three Cs and it's character, communication and connected team. And like those are the three things that I think matter the most is the, the character guys. Are they coachable, are they dependable, are they positive? You know what I mean is there are those, the guys you want to be around as a teammate. And then when you talk about the, the communication part, like the best teams in the league are great communicators. Verbal, visual, you know, especially up front. I use that example all the time. It's like you got to pick up blitzes on third down to win in the NFL and you got to be on the same page. And sometimes it's loud as on the road, you're on a silent count and how do you, how do we get the calls communicated? How great are we communicating? It also falls into the off the field part too. Like when something's going on, make sure we're community. If you're going to be late to hey coach, I'll be late to the team meeting and you called me at 7:30. That's good communication. If the meeting's at 8, I got an issue, I need help taking care of it. Right. We can work through that. If you tell me 805 after you show up that you had a car issue, that's bad communication.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's a fine.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

That's a fine. Yeah. So that's what we're looking not to do that. So those, those three season, the last one I think I've kind of touched on is the being a connected team and being a part of something that's bigger than yourself. Like again, everybody's got money, everybody's got players, there's talent in the league. Every game comes down to one possession most of the time. And what's the separator? And to me it's the teams that when you look at them, you feel it. When they play. You're like, man, those dudes are playing for each other. Like, you feel it. And you guys have been on those teams. You played against those teams. You're like, like, damn, these guys are on top of it. And you feel it from their sideline. You feel from the energy when they make a play. Like, that's. Those are the things that you want to see. And I think the football parts are prerequisite. Like, you got to be able to be detailed and have discipline. That stuff is. That's, like, not negotiable. That's expected. These are those things. The character, the communication, and being a connected team are things that I think make the difference when all that other stuff is equal.

[Interviewer]

That's awesome. I love that we talked about the Gunslingers with Stafford, Manning, Levis, and Burrow, but I don't want to go on. I don't want to not bring up Browning last year, getting thrown into the fire in a very high pressure situation.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Talk about him a little bit, because I feel like you. It's like when that happened, it's like, well, the Bengals, they're out of it.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

But you guys, you know, obviously you didn't win the super bowl or anything. Yeah, there was, like, zero pain.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

We were in it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, you guys were in it right there until the end.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Like, talk about.

[Interviewer]

Talk about Browning a little bit.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Man. What a. What a. What a story, really. I mean, he's. We. We stole him off the practice squad before we played Minnesota in 20, 21. And we brought him in to ultimately sort of flush him for information. You know, they cut the quarterback loose. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Waterboard him, get him out of there.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Then he came in and we're like, oh, really? This. This guy, I think, is. You know, we like this tape. And obviously we didn't bring him in because just for that, we thought he was a good player, but. But that's just how the league works. You cut guys loose. And we. We playing in week one, so we signed him, and he comes in, he starts like, like, wow, this guy's really smart. And then he's a little bit undersized and. And he doesn't look. He's not like a outwardly great looking athlete. And you're like, all right, is this. Can this guy play at all? And we weren't sure. And he starts practicing and, like, does some things that you like. You can play on time, you can process. And so we just sort of kept him and he developed and he did a really nice job. And he was with us for I think two and a half years up to the chance to play, and he never really got to play. Play a little bit in the preseason. And it was like, all right, well, Jake's gonna play. Let's see. See what the guy's got. But we felt really confident that he would perform well because he works his ass off, he studies like crazy. And then when you look back at his career, he started for four years at Washington. They went to a rose. Boy, he was a good college football player, and he's got all the makeup that would make you a good player in the NFL. And he went out there, man, and. And he played awesome. In a situation where it's hard to play, like, you know, every. The franchise quarterback gets hurt, and, like, everybody's spirits are down. All of a sudden, Jake goes out there, and guys were like, oh, yeah, we can do this. You know what I mean?

[Interviewer]

Like, yeah, like.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Like, yeah, we're not out of. Let's go. And. And he brought some. Some life back into the team. And I give him a ton of credit because he was really open about what was good and what was bad. Like, hey, don't call that play. I don't like this play. Here's the things that I need to play. Like, he was very vocal about what he felt like he could succeed with, and that ton of credit goes to him because, you know, when you're in a position as a player, like, you're like, oh, if I say this, they might tell me to. They can't. I know you won't do it. You're afraid to say something.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You want to be a yes man.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You just. You just want to do what's asked of you, right? And he goes in the first Pittsburgh game, and we were kind of like, are you sure you feel good about this? And he's like, yeah, just call the game how you called it for Joe. I'll operate. I'll play well. And he didn't. And he came back the next week and is like, don't call this. Don't call this. Don't call this. Call these things. Give me more peer progression. Give me a chance to work through a read. Find me some things. And he was like. All of a sudden, it was like, oh, not, thank you. This is what we need from you, and we'll do whatever it is you need to do to feel like you can play well. And so, ton of credit to him for being able to say that. But he went out there and showed that he's a legitimate quarterback in the NFL and When I got the job, he was joking. He's like, you know, it's, he goes, it's kind of messed up. He's like, I've gotten more guys have gotten head jobs when I've played. And he's like, do people think I'm that shitty that I play well enough? And like it's. Now everyone's a great, a great coach. And I'm like, I said that's pretty backwards. I do agree, but that is hilarious, bro. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Because it was almost like, you know, when you get hired, everybody, we're hype and everything else. It's like, I mean, Joe B. Went down and they were still contenders with Jake Browning. Not like on Jake, but you're like, yeah, everything can still accidentally the whole.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Time, but yeah, yeah, inadvertently you, you do. And, and so we laughed about it. But. But I do think he, he deserves a ton of credit for how well he played. He's kind of a self made. I mean he's worked his, he's worked his tail off to get in position to. When you get that opportunity to go, to go play well. And he's going to play in the NFL for a long time because of it. And no question, I love the dude. I think he's outstanding. He's got a great personality and I was really happy for him that he had a chance to show his, his talents like that. And, and he was open and honest enough with us to help us put him in position and that's ultimately our job. Yeah. That's so awesome. Yeah. Yeah. But he's a good, he is a, he's a good football player. Yeah. Yeah.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Narrator (Shock Incarceration)]

What would you do if one bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth? Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He said, you are a number, a.

[Jake Hofer]

New York state number, and we own you.

[Narrator (Shock Incarceration)]

Shock incarceration, also known as boot camps, are short term, highly regimented correctional programs that mimic military basic training. These programs aim to provide a shock of prison life, emphasizing strict discipline, physical training, hard labor, and rehabilitation programs. Mark had one chance to complete this program and had no idea of the hell awaiting him the next six months.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

The first night was overwhelming, and you don't know who's next to you, and we didn't know what to expect. In the morning, nobody tells you anything.

[Narrator (Shock Incarceration)]

Listen to shock incarceration on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

A foot washed up, a shoe with some bones in it. They had no idea who it was.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Most everything was burned up pretty good from the fire that not a whole lot was salvageable.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

These are the coldest of cold cases. But everything is about to change.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Every case that is a cold case that has DNA right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

A small lab in Texas is cracking the code on DNA using new scientific tools. They're finding clues in evidence so tiny you might just miss it.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He never thought he was going to get caught. And I just looked at my computer.

[Interviewer]

Screen, I was just like, ah, gotcha.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

On America's Crime Lab, we'll learn about victims and survivors, and you'll meet the team behind the scenes at othram, the Houston lab that takes on the most hopeless cases to finally solve the unsolvable. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Fly him on the Titan someday.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Who knows?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He's an option.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He's.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He's got you never an option.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I think he's under contract for like another a year or two. Two years, I think, for.

[Interviewer]

Oh, you know.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, you're very aware.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah. So you're saying there's quarterback controversy in Cincinnati right now? Is that what you're getting at?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You know what? Absolutely. Yeah. Big debates going to be. Not sure who it's going to be. Might be Jake, might be Joe. Who knows?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

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[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Do you see that change in personalities as new guys start to come in?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, you do. It's different. I mean, it is. It is a little bit different. Now, let's not pretend like guys weren't coming in the league with money before.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Right. Not at ucla.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Obviously not at ucla. Certainly not there. And maybe not in Nebraska, either. But unless. But Michigan. Michigan. I don't know. I feel like that's.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I wish.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I wish we had that SEC treatment. I got a free meal once. I bring it up all the time.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

One time.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Got a free meal one time. And that fired me up.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You get like 100 handshake somewhere.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

No, never. I never got offered a dime. And it bugs me because I would love the opportunity to take somebody's money. Yes.

[Interviewer]

I ever hear about. Is they just put money, like, on a turnover on the sideline. You hear about a coach, I got a thousand. And then another coach would match it. And then in college, and then sue would get it, and it's like, oh, all right.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Because, you know, sue was getting paid. You know, something was happening. But Stafford, he. I heard stories about him being at Georgia and be. There'd be $500,000 in his mailbox for him to stay for another year.

[Interviewer]

Stafford.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yes.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I mean, those. Those are awesome. You hear those stories all the time.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Stephen went to Georgia, right?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Because I get him and Bradford mixed up sometimes.

[Interviewer]

If you had to guess, would you think that's true?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I mean, I think I talked to.

[Interviewer]

Him about it, but we won't.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I think. I think some of it gets. There's. They're probably like fishing stories. Like, the fish gets bigger as the years go by.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah. It's probably like 20 grand.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I think there's probably some of that, but.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Crazy.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. I'm sure. At all. I'm sure they're. I mean, they're not made up. Like. I'm sure those stories all happened pretty regularly, I would imagine. But the kids coming in now, I mean, you. It's there. It's a different style. Like, they've already been paid, you know, so this isn't the first time they've had money. And I think that that part is. Is unique, that the money thing isn't new. But what is new for them is that now they can't transfer and they are under contract. And I think that's a different mindset for them. Like, they're used to being able to kind of Freely move, you know, wherever they want. College football transfer two, three times, and nothing wrong with transferring, but there's. It's a different mindset. Like when things are hard in the NFL, you're under contract and you're either going to get cut, you're going to figure it out. And I think that's where it changes for guys, is that they're not used to that. That binding agreement that doesn't really exist in college football anymore and that they have to play well to get money. You know, like, that's the other part.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

In the NFL, they come up and ask for trades all the time.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Your boy in Cincinnati, Hendrickson, he said he wasn't getting paid enough.

[Interviewer]

You airing them out, Hendrickson, I mean.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It'S news that he asked for a trade that is public knowledge, not airing the boy out. Yeah, but you are contractually obligated. You probably should think about that a little bit.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

But I think there. That is the difference, though, is that there's no, like, what I do. Like, there's a resilience factor to maybe some of how some of these kids have come in college where the minute they don't like something, they leave. And the adjustment period comes when they get to the NFL and it's like, well, I don't like this. And it's like, sorry, you know. Yeah. Like you. You don't have a choice. Like, so that part, I think, is where it changes. The money part I don't think has changed. Kids, other than they just have more experience with money. And so you're not as concerned about maybe some of the things that a kid for the first time getting money. Some of these kids have been making money for four years, right? Yeah. Been paying taxes and, you know, I mean, it's not new form.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah. It almost might be a good thing, actually, that they're making a little bit of money in college.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Especially some of the high. The guys that are getting big money, you know, they're used to getting big money, and they're probably getting big money because they're good players. And so they likely are going to get pretty good money when they get the NFL by their draft position. So.

[Interviewer]

And hopefully have like the right teams kind of already kind of building and structured around themselves to make it an easy transition.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You would hope. I think there's a little bit of a. There's some. There's probably some predatory opportunities out there for guys and some of these guys in college that don't know anything. And when you're talking about putting people around you. You just hope that they're making good decisions with it. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Gotta have a team. Yes, you do have a team that checks everybody.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Derrick Henry.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Long time Titan. Gonna be obviously in the ring of honor eventually.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No doubt.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Was there a conversation with you and Ran to try to reach out and say, hey, let's do this one more year.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

They touched base, you know, ran, had a relationship with him, obviously being there for a year. And they went back and forth on. On what the money would look like. And we just knew we had the, the holes that we had to fill. The money would be allocated initially elsewhere. And the running back market went pretty good. I mean, there's some guys that got paid. It was higher money than I think maybe we had projected to start across the league for the running back position. And that's good for those guys. That's great. And so when you get into those positions where, you know, we're trying to fill multiple holes in a free agency period, it's like, where do you want to allocate the money and how do you want to spend it? And I think that I would have been absolutely open to Derek coming back. I think it felt like Derek was ready for something new. And then the money part, when it happened, those conversations go back and forth and ultimately it was for both parties probably the best decision at the end of the day for, for him and for us. But I mean, he is the, he was the Tennessee Titans for the better part of the last six years, probably seven years, where, I mean, that's what you thought. You thought of Tennessee. You thought of Derek Henry. And I look forward to the day when he, his name gets to go up in that stadium because he's earned that right. Yeah. To be up there with the greats. He's. He's phenomenal.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He's a stud, man.

[Interviewer]

Getting to hang out with you at the facility and asking if you'd come on the bus. We started to learn that you were a bit of a stoolie in your younger days.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I was, yeah. I was, yeah.

[Interviewer]

Boys know that you're on the bus. Did you hit the group chat up.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Like, hey, I didn't tell anybody yet. It was going to be. There's. I got some old. From my high school buddies will be pretty, pretty fired up. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's awesome.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, I was, I. I feel like I was on the. I was on the. I was on the front end of the barstool experience. I mean, it was back when it was just a handful of those guys blogging when it Was just the blog. It was, it was a 2000.

[Interviewer]

The blackout party. Is that what it was called?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Blackout party?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

My brother, My brother and my sisters went. Went to a couple of those blackout parties. They're. They're only my bros. Only 18 months younger than me. And they would always tell me about the blackout parties. And you see the videos online. It was, it was a. It was a different time on the Internet, that's for sure. But yeah, I remember. I mean, those guys were obviously Big Cat and, and Dave and those guys. I've been reading those things for probably pretty close to when they. From when they started and left for a lot of. Laughed a lot for a long time reading that stuff. So, yeah, I'm. I'm a. I'm a stoolie. I've been. I've been one for a really long time. I feel like there's got to be a weird part that like I'm be 40 years old in June and I think there's like this whole generation of like middle aged stoolies that were there in the beginning.

[Interviewer]

No question.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You know what I mean? It's like, like, man, it's been. They've been doing this a long time.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Since the inception.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Every time I see Big Cat, he's got more and more gray hair.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You just. I can relate. I can relate. I get it.

[Interviewer]

Who's your favorite. Who's your favorite personality?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Well, hold on. Before you do it, maybe we should tear talk this for him.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Are you. Are you familiar with tear talk?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

So tear talk is. We're just based. It's a ranking system.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh. Oh, yeah. Okay. Okay.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You're gonna start with three and work us up to one. You can give as much context or as little as context as you want. The tear talk will be a little synopsis. Your favorite barstool personalities excluded.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

All right.

[Interviewer]

Excluded, we'll be. God, dear.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You start with three.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Start with three.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You can give an honorable mention too, if you're having a hard time.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Okay. I mean, I, I would probably be the. The originals or the guys that I'm probably talking about.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I love it.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I would say. I would say my three. Okay. Three would be. I'll probably never be invited back here, but three would probably be Dave. I'll probably never let me back here. That's pizza review.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He's too low. Or Dave gets, gets mad at us a lot.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Both. Both. I'm a big. I'm a big. I'm a big supporter. So I wanna, you know, I would say two would be KFC. I used to love listening to reading KFC's blogs back in the day. And then one would be Big Cat. I thought Big Cat was. His humor and my humor were very similar.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He is.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He's a machine man. I don't know how he does. I don't know how he keeps. I mean, he's like. He's like Internet Kobe or something. Like, he just got this.

[Interviewer]

Oh, don't tell him that.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

His.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

His recall. You'll have a conversation with him in four years later, he'll remember it. There was a clip that came out yesterday about him and KB on the Yak and it was back in October about him putting a razor blade in some of KB's food and eventually he's going to give it to him within the calendar year. And he did it yesterday.

[Interviewer]

He's like an elephant, bro.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He really is an elephant. I thought that was.

[Interviewer]

So he actually, truth be told, he's got a question that he. He proposed to you.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Is this the. Is this the one?

[Interviewer]

Yeah, it's the one that we don't like.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

See BC to bc.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

First of all, thank you for being a stoolie and supporting us all these years. I got a question for you. I'm taking a piss while I do this. I got a question for you on the boat us. We'd love to have you on the show. And I was looking at the calendar. June 25th. If you want to come to Chicago. We'd love to have you up. Whole family, anyone who wants to come up. June 25th, come to Chicago. We'll do an interview. We'll. We'll do the Gauntlet. We'll have a great time. So that's. I guess my question is, can you come to Chicago? June 25th and come on PMT.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Do you want to give some context?

[Interviewer]

The context on that is our Beer Games Championships of the world is on June 25th. He is. He's on the list. He can't.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He's back. He can't back out.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He can't come.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He has to come. He can't back out.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

And he's got this running bit happening right now that he can't back out. And since we've had to do a couple hurt, we've had a couple bumps in the road with the Beer Olympics, with the Beer Games.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Sure.

[Interviewer]

He likes to give the boys a hard time. So he. I guess he wants you to come on part of my take, which I'm sure that's A yes.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Absolutely.

[Interviewer]

June 25th. We're gonna have to.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He's busy June 25th.

[Interviewer]

He's busy June 25th.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Also, it's vacation time for y', all, too, right?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It is. It is. I've. I'm moving. I am moving in that very short time frame from Cincinnati. Finally, down here, I'm living in a house by myself, in an empty house with a bed. That's the life that I live.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That college lifestyle. It's got the mattress on the floor, wires everywhere, TV hanging, lifestyle.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Sitting on, like, a folding chair to watch tv.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You kind of do enjoy it a little bit, huh?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

There's part of it that brings it back to your roots, you know?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

No doubt.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

But, yeah, that might be a tough swing, but we can look into it.

[Interviewer]

Maybe next off season.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Maybe next off.

[Interviewer]

Next off season. Because they will take you out to Chicago and just let whoever your boys are. You heard him say, whoever wants to come, he should come with an entire.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Crew and whole entourage.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I'll say this about Chicago. Their HQ there is incredible. It's like a fantasy factory. Basketball. They have literally everything you want. Basketball court, golf simulator. Chef Donnie in the corner. He'll make you whatever you want. It's some of the best food you'll ever have.

[Interviewer]

Like the Titan facility without the indoor. Without the football field.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

It's crazy.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It is. It is pretty cool. It's very cool. You'd really enjoy it.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

The cool thing, too. My. You know, my whole family is from Chicago.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Really?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. My dad's born and raised. He's south side of Chicago. My grandfather was a Chicago cop.

[Interviewer]

Okay.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Good old Irish Chicago cop.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Nice. Are you. Will, you grew up a Bears fan?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I did grow up a Bears fan. Until, obviously, I became a fan of my dad wherever we moved to. But when my dad was coaching in college at University of Wisconsin, that was like, the Bears were. You know, he still. My dad still watches, like, every White Sox game.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Oh, really?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, yeah. They're not very good.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It runs deep in Chicago, huh?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Deep. It's deep. So my whole family, my. Everybody. My mom. Mom's from the north side. The whole family's from Chicago.

[Interviewer]

Were you just a massive fan of your dad growing up?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He was always the man.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Always. I mean, it's my. You know. Yeah, yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

But you have to go through that teenage rebellious years where you're like, he doesn't know everything.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I never. I know I did.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Not really.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I mean, God, I need some notes.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I mean, so. Well, I'll say this like, my dad was. My dad is an intimidating personality, and I was the Oldest of four. And so I didn't ever have. It was like I was scared to death to make a mistake because I, you know. You ever hear him yell? He's got a real loud voice and it's intimidating. Yeah. And I did not want to get. I didn't want to get in trouble. It's all my friends. Like, dude, you got like. I had like a 10:30 curfew in high school for a while and all my boys were like, you gotta rebel, don't.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You can't.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, bad. They're like, they're trying. Well, you know, it's like, I mean, 10:30 is kind of early.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Dude, that is nuts.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It's early.

[Interviewer]

But this is weekend curfew.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, yeah. No, this is all the time. Like, this is. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I mean, seven o' clock at lights. Yeah, the game's over. You're going home.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No parties for me.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

None. And that's the best. We don't forget that. Go ahead.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

But. So that was the. I was scared to death of like, I, I was not rebellious to my dad because I knew my. I watched my dad coach these guys for all these years and how he. His demeanor and his style. I was like, I don't, I don't need to cross that. I don't need those problems.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Growing up, were you like, were you a troublemaker or a straight shooter the whole time?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I was pretty straight shooter.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I had enough. I had enough. Probably enough mischief, but not anything serious enough to really get in trouble.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

What is the most devious thing you ever did as a young teen?

[Interviewer]

Probably just TP a house.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Probably egg the house. That's a. That's his next step.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

That's.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You're egging my TP is one thing.

[Interviewer]

He'll throw the toilet paper at the tree, but the minute somebody gets out control of carton of eggs, he's probably thinking, I don't know if I want.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

To be a part. He's the first one to learn much for me.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I can do it. I can't go that far.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. That was. Yeah, it was nothing like nothing more than that. It was never anything I did.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Not just fun. Classic boys being boy stuff.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hover and this is back 40, a limited series show on wire to Hunt, part of Meat eaters podcast network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focus thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Should you? That's what the real Question is, stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

Sometimes it's hard to remember, but going.

[Interviewer]

Through something like that is a traumatic.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Experience, but it's also not the end of your life.

[Dr. Leah Tritate]

That was my dad reminding me and so many others who need to hear it that our trauma is not our shame to carry and that we have big, bold and beautiful lives to live after what happened to us. I'm your host and co president of this organization, Dr. Leitra Tate. On my new podcast, the Unwanted Sorority, we wade through transformation to peel back healing and reveal what it actually looks like and sounds like in real time. Each week I sit down with people who've lived through harmony, carried silence, and are now reshaping the systems that failed us. We're going to talk about the adultification of black girls mothering as resistance and the tools we use for healing. The Unwanted Sorority is a safe space, not a quiet space. So let's lock in. We're moving towards liberation together. Listen to the Unwanted Sorority. New episodes every Thursday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

American history is full of wise people. Walt Whitman said something like, you know, 99.99% of war is diarrhea and 1% is glory.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Those founding fathers were gossipy AF and they love to cut each other down.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, the show where you send us your questions about American history, and I find the answers, including the nuggets of wisdom our history has to offer.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Hamilton pauses, and then he says, the greatest man that ever lived was Julius Caesar. And Jefferson writes in his diary, this proves that Hamilton is for a dictator based on corruption.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

My favorite line was what Neil Armstrong said. It would have been harder to fake it than to do it. Listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Interviewer]

You ever get in big trouble?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I did.

[Interviewer]

Big trouble.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yes, I did, once. And I was like, middle school Raleigh. I. I can't really want to tell the story, but I am because it's funny and whatever. When I was in middle school, we, me and my little neighbor next door, my buddy that I used to run around all the time, we, we. We decided we were going to make a torch. Parents weren't home. We run. So we wrap all this toilet paper around a stick and dip it in gasoline and light it up and we're like swinging it around we're middle school. We're like, yeah. And we're swinging it around and having a hell of a time. And we're in these woods behind our house, and we would try to be responsible. We had water put. Put the. Put the torch in the water. You know, it's. And I look out, like, an hour later, and nobody. My parents were home. I look out, like, an hour later, and the entire fort. The entire forest is on fire behind our house. I mean, it was like. I mean, fire department. I mean, committed arson. It's like. It's like flame. Yeah. Yeah. And we. You know, we didn't mean to, obviously, but. But it's like there's, you know, it's a patch of. I mean, it wasn't small. It wasn't like a. A whole, but, I mean, those trees on. I mean, it was on fire. The fire department had to come and put it out. And. And. But at the time, my parents weren't home. I was there. I was home by myself. And the fire department came, they put it out, and they left. And I was like, I'm in the clear. They're never going to know. And so my buddy, whose parents were home, they saw it, and they put the clamps on him. And he cracked.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

No.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, yeah, he cracked. He definitely cracked.

[Interviewer]

Your boy cracked?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Do you have a talk with him after? Like, brother, you got it.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Like, come on, man.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

How'd they get him to crack? That's so easy.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Because we were, like, relatively good kid. Like, it wasn't like he was. We weren't trying to do anything wrong. I think he's. Yeah. But then. So my parents know, and then my dad asked me on multiple occasions, hey, do you know anything about what happened back there behind the house?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You did?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Nope. No idea. I mean, I lied to his face. Lied to his face. And I thought I was getting away with it, and little did I know, I was just getting set up. I was just. He was just stringing me along, just waiting, and I. That was the most mad I think I've ever seen him. Not because of what we did, but because I lied to him about. And he gave me ample opportunities to tell him the truth, and I just stuck with it.

[Interviewer]

So he did it a few different occasions. Oh, yeah. Maybe the first time he let it pass. Like, let's see if he thinks about it a little bit more.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

That his old man.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's a vet move. Yes, that is a vet move.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

So when you wonder. When you wonder why I probably wouldn't rebel when I Was in high school. I saw that, and I was like, nope, no, thanks. I don't need that. I don't need those problems.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's a savvy dad move.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

My dad would go out of town in high school and he'd be like, you're not allowed in the house. Like, go to your mom's house. You're not in the house. And one time we had a party.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

And I came home and I was like, you. You been in the house at all? I was like, no, but he set up, like, T shirts and certain things in parts of the house. Like, it was, like. It was just a little bit dirty.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

But he remembered every spot he put it in. So if it was moved at all when he got back, he knows somebody was in the house. I folded. There was like, 10 people at the house, too. It wasn't like a cool party.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It was just a gift.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It was a gift. It was a kickback. Yeah. Nice little kickback.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

But, yeah, ma'.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Am.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Dads are good like that.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Billy ever get you?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, yeah. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

The one that comes to my mind, I think I've told before, but my parents were out of town because my brother. I'm a junior in high school, so my brother, he's a sophomore. Absolute stud wrestler, he was. My parents said that I had to wrestle that year or I'd be grounded all of winter.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Good motivation. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Interviewer]

My dad said it helped me in football, which there is truth to wrestling helping in football.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

But my brother had a. It was my. It was my first week weekend, like, on the squad, and they're wrestling your boy, JV Junior. And I thought it was so disrespectful.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

But my brother.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, my brother, who's a sophomore there, traveled out to Kansas City for this wrestling tournament for the varsity team. And so I'm just back at the house by myself. So I throw. You know, I throw a party. Nice little banger. And I'm talking. It's ever clear.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It's.

[Interviewer]

It's the cheapest of the cheap. Yeah. The most.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

The plastic stuff.

[Interviewer]

Yeah. And, you know, it was rowdy to where basically I had to be on the bus at like, 5:30 in the morning the next morning to go to the JV wrestling tournament. And we were up all night. And I mean, we're. You know, we did. I was driven. We take somebody home, drop them off. They're puking in the driveway as we're dropping them off. I'm like, hey, you gotta hurry. Like, we have to leave so I can make the bus. And I'm still sauce from the night. And we're riding up, I'm trying to like get some sleep. It's like an hour and a half bus ride. And then I start texting the boys. Like I didn't clean anything up. And my parents are going to get home before our bus gets back from the tournament. So just terrible planning on my part. So I'm texting like Logan and John and the boys. So I clean it up and they did their absolute best. They got some stuff messed up, but they did what they could to clean up the place. Well, I get back, by the way, won the JV wrestling tournament. Did not get scored on hungover, just destroyed. But I get back and dude, my mom finds this. There's a condom sitting out on the end table that was being played with because 40 year old virgin had came out and he was playing Aquaman on his hand.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

With the condom. And my boy was doing that. I mean there was girls over and there's fun to be had, but that particular loss that we took was one that shouldn't have even been taken. You know what I mean? And it was not fun. It was not fun. My dad was one of those where it was like, same thing. I never wanted to be in trouble by my parents. And I remember again another, another night where we got, where we got caught drinking and partying and stuff. And my parents came over and Logan, my buddy, he's like my best friend and his mom were pulling in the driveway and she's like, you guys don't have a can party. Boys will have a party and just sit down on the grass. We're all like lined up, sitting down like, you know, Indian style. And all your parents are coming over. We got you motherfuckers type of thing. My dad comes over and bro, like, you know, your boy's got like tears in his eyes. Like, I'm like, dad, I'm not going home. And he like takes his glasses off, he's on like the other side of the dining room table and we're in Logan's house and he's like, son, you're coming home. And starts like walking around and I just start like going around the table with him. Oh, bro. But it was not good. It was. We've had, we've had some run ins back in the day in older Missouri. And my dad, it's always the same speech. Like you got the world ahead of you. Like you have at this point. I had like one offer from Like Illinois.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Not wrong, though. Not wrong.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, that's a good call by a dad.

[Interviewer]

Illinois K State at the time. And he was like, you're gonna. You're gonna mess this up. Like, you're gonna. This off and. But we had. We had some run in some stories that definitely come to my mind when I'm like, the boys were in some situations.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

You never want to piss off your parents.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No, not. Not if you. Especially when you got one that's not one you want to mess with either.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, bro. You know, there's a story I told my dad. He's like, you ever want to shot the title, you just let me know. And he's like, this close to me, and he just doesn't blow me a kiss, but he just goes. And in my face, and I'm like, all right. All right, dad. And it's just like, he's like, you ever want a shot at the time?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Tell him how old you were.

[Interviewer]

A senior. Oh, a senior in high school.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

You should have swung on that man, bro.

[Interviewer]

I don't. There's a diff. Now. I would, you know, out of respect, it would never happen.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Right.

[Interviewer]

I would obviously take. Take advantage of him now. But, dude, there was. I mean, as long as you could have respect for an old man, on beating your ass, he had every bit of it up.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. I'm not gonna lie to you guys. Like, I wouldn't be surprised. Like, my dad could still probably whip my ass.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Oh, you don't want to. You know, you think he would.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, dude, this.

[Interviewer]

I mean, yoga is. You don't sleep on yoga, but this means that yoga at 6am probably every morning.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Bill.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Bill Kellen.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. He can, like, do the splits and handstands and stuff.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Oh, okay.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I'm not joking.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I had no idea.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. Like, I don't. I. You don't want to mess. I wouldn't mess with him. Yeah. I wouldn't want to.

[Interviewer]

That's the thing.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I don't need a shot at that time.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, you know, you're good. That's the thing, too, with, like, Bill. Like, you know, he carries this intimidating demeanor, but, you know, when he's saying something to you, he has. He has your respect because, you know, in his world, he's putting in all of that work, not just in studying, but in lifestyle with the yoga and watching him prep all the way up until kickoff, like, laying on his back and just, like, studying his notebook and writing down final notes. And he is the man. Like, I've always had a lot of respect for Bill.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I appreciate.

[Interviewer]

Glad I never got to. You never had to partake in his individual drills, but yeah, you didn't always love.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Didn't have to hit the sled. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Always love the Big Bird.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

What's the name of the sled?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Bera and Olga.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Olga, yeah. God.

[Interviewer]

Did he create those?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, he invented the sled.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Do we invented the actual sled or the actual sled?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

The sled that they were hitting.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

No.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, that actual, actual invention of the sled.

[Interviewer]

Do we have patents?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, he gets royalties.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

This is a wild. Because JC is a he. That's a unit of a man.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yes.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He's being. He got folded the first time. He seems start to figure it out.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He figured it out.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

There's no way anyone ever does good on that the first time.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Never.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

No.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

And that's what my dad's laughing at him because they were. He bet him JC was like, no, I got. I'll get it, I'll move. And my dad's like, okay, just hands in his pockets. Yeah. But yeah, they, they invented that sled when he was in Washington.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's. That's impressive right there. It's resetting the hips, driving. That's impressive.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

They call it taking another bite. So he takes another bite and gets going. But that sled, he, he. He worked with Ray Crowther, the company and they, they sort of developed it together and, and made that. That sled. The angles and the, and the handles where the. Your hands fit and like just. It feels more like what a defensive lineman feels like coming off the ball versus like the old squared up sleds. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah. With JC Drafting him, getting your first opportunity to get your hands on him a little bit.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Are.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Is there anything that surprised you about him that you think maybe he didn't have or is he as advertising your.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Mind so far as advertised? I mean we felt like there was. There was two linemen that we felt like were. Were worthy of top 10 picks and that's Joe Alton and JC and the two guys that we were like either one of those guys will happily take. Yeah. If they're available to us. And thankfully JC was and he's everything we thought he was going to be. And he's got a super high ceiling because you just, he's just got all these physical tools that you. He doesn't even really know how to use them all yet, you know. But yeah, super talented, great kid. All the things you could want in an offensive lineman.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Was there a fear for you, him playing his Whole career on the right side. Not moving him to left.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No, because you know, one. It's been done before. Guys have transitioned from right to left. He played left in high school, so it's not like he's never been in a left handed stance. Right. Played four years Alabama because he had to with Evan Neal and I think it was Tyler Steen maybe. But so they had guys that left and then they had a five star recruit come in and he'd already played a couple years over there and they were like, well, this is our chance to get our best five guys. Well, you're comfortable there. We'll leave you there. But he's fully capable of playing left tackle. I think he's probably comparable. Like what Tyron Smith was is Tyron came out as a right tackle, played right tackle for a year in the league and then they moved him to left in that transition. Obviously that worked out great for him and for them. You know, he just did it with Jedrick Wills in Cleveland. Chad played on the right in Alabama and played left when he got to Cleveland for the last four years now. So not unprecedented. Yeah. Yeah. And he's got the talent to do.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It, so that's awesome. I'm glad to see here that he's a good dude because I got worried those top notch SEC schools after dealing with Isaiah Wilson In 2020, sure, that was a horrible experience for everybody involved in the Titans building.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

From afar, it seemed like that was not a lot of fun.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

No, it was not. But he does seem. JP was with him. JP's not in here. JP was with him at IMG and he says he's an awesome guy. He was a dude. Yeah. And IMG to Academy, the. They have like leadership. They have like mindset classes.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It's a sports factory.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

We got to talk to Tyler Booker who was at Alabama with him. And the way he was talking about mindset and meditation and all that was like eye opening to see that this young cat has all these tools already. Yeah, that's because img.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. I mean that they. He's. And he was the number one recruit. It's not like he's number one recruit in the country, goes to Alabama. It's like his. He's known nothing but success. Yeah. And sometimes there's. There's something to that. I think it was cool though, the other day after the first practice, he struggles with the sled and it's kind of. Kind of made him mad. Like he's a little bit disappointed he couldn't do it. The Right way, right away. And so it's like five o'. Clock. They had the rookie mini camp in the morning. This was on. On Friday. They practice in the morning. They're done. Like about 5 o'. Clock. I'm sitting in my office and I look outside and JC's out there like running 100 yard sprints. And then he's like moseying down to where the sled's at. And all of a sudden he starts hitting us. He's by himself and all of a sudden I walk next door. I'm like, rand, I should I stop him? He's like, I'll let him go for a minute and just, just let him do his thing and. But he's out there in the afternoon mad that he didn't do well enough. And he's out there working again. I'm like, that's, that's when you're like, okay, this is the right makeup. Like, this guy's.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, that's as juicy.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

As a head coach, you got to look at that and be like, that's the guy we just drafted. That's an unbelievable feeling.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

That's awesome. And. But then there's also the flip side of it is like, dude, you're gonna get plenty of work. You might just want to take the recovery when you get it.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, no doubt, no doubt.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

But what a good first impression.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, I mean, it was that. That goes a long way. And then it was every day after that where he'd be out. Like, you just, it's like part of his routine. And when you see a young player, it's got some routine where it's like, I need to go do this, this, and this in the afternoon because that helps me get ready for the next whatever it is. At least there's some thought process behind it.

[Jake Hofer]

And you're like, I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is the not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Narrator (Shock Incarceration)]

What would you do if one bad decision forced you to choose between a maximum security prison or the most brutal boot camp designed to be hell on earth? Unfortunately for Mark Lombardo, this was the choice he faced.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

He said, you are a number, a.

[Jake Hofer]

New York state number, and we own you.

[Narrator (Shock Incarceration)]

Shock incarceration, also known as boot camps, are short term, highly regimented correctional programs that mimic military basic training. These programs aim to provide a shock a prison life, emphasizing strict discipline, physical training, hard labor and rehabilitation programs. Mark had one chance to complete this program and had no idea of the hell awaiting him. The need next six months the first.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Night was overwhelming and you don't know who's next to you and we didn't know what to expect in the morning. Nobody tells you anything.

[Narrator (Shock Incarceration)]

Listen to shock incarceration on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

American history is full of wise people. Walt Whitman said something like, you know, 99.99% of war is diarrhea and 1% is gory.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Those founding fathers were gossipy AF and they love to cut each other down.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, the show where you send us your questions about American history and I find the answers, including the nuggets of wisdom our history has to offer.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Hamilton pauses and then he says, the greatest man that ever lived was Julius Caesar. And Jefferson writes in his diary, this proves that Hamilton is for a dictator based on corruption.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

My favorite line was what Neil Armstrong said.

[Jake Hofer]

It would have been harder to fake.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It than to do it. Listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, man, that'll do. You'll be. You're gonna be all right.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's got a fire. Fire of Titans fans. So much.

[Interviewer]

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[Co-host/Interviewer]

Massive Titan fans sitting on this bus right now, Jack McFerson and Garrett Hargus. They've been Titans fans since the beginning. Boys, do you have any questions for Coach C?

[Jack McPherson]

Yeah, I do. Jack McPherson, how's it going? Nice to meet you, Jack, lifelong Titan fan. Super excited to have you here on the bus and behind the range for the Titans. My question, with the significant upgrades we've gotten in the wide receiver room recently, what Is your plan regarding Traylon Burks, with him only having one TD in 22 games?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Jack McPherson]

I know you've been asked this before in the media, but would love to hear it firsthand from you.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Sure. I think that's a, that's a, that's a topic of conversation these days. I'll tell you this. I. I only know what I've seen of them. Obviously I know the what. What precedes him just because I've watched it and I understand it. But from what we see on a day to day basis with Trey, he's been phenomenal. Like his work ethic, the things that he's done, does everything we've asked. He's got unbelievable physical talent and it's almost. It's a personal challenge to me and to our staff is how do we find the best role for Trey to come help us? Like, I think he can be a good player. I do think guys get in these situations sometimes. For example, you, you know, the trade AJ and they draft him. There's just intense amount of pressure on him to be AJ and or to replace AJ And I think that that wears on guys sometimes when it doesn't go well to start. And it's hard to be a really good player at receiver as a rookie. I think it's hard. I think it's a difficult task. And so for him there might have been a compounding factors of all that pressure he felt. And then to be able to go play fast and play aggressive and be free of that, I think is hard. So what I'm hopeful for is that the addition of these veteran players that we have in here, a new lease for him in terms of. All I know is what he's shown me and I don't make any judgments on what's happened before. And that opportunity to reinvent yourself in a sense, I think is going to be really good for him. And I've been impressed with what he's done so far and I think he can play. But it's like a personal challenge for me to find a place for him to have some success because he's got a talent and ability to do it.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's awesome.

[Jack McPherson]

My second part question as well.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Who.

[Jack McPherson]

What credentials do I need or who do I need to talk to to be able to be the 12th Titan and swing that sword of honor put.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

In the middle of the field?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You know, I've not experienced this yet, so you might have to.

[Jack McPherson]

It's okay.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Is this like a.

[Jack McPherson]

It's the first thing they do right before the coin toss. And usually it's like an Eddie George or a Javon curse, but what about Jack McPherson from Nashville, Tennessee, swinging that sword? Also, one request again, you've never experienced this. We need to bring back the OG Pain Train video.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yes. Yes. This is. Okay, Pain Train video does have to come back.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It.

[Jack McPherson]

I don't know what happened, if it was a copyright issue, but there was an original video they played before every fourth quarter of every game, and it needs to come back. I know. If there's any Titans fans listening, they're turning this up and going, come on. Come on, Callahan.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

All right, Callie. They're calling him Callie now. Okay, a couple things right here. Jack, while he's answering the credential part of that question, can you pull up the pain train?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. I like to see this.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Jack is a guy. If you give him a reward at the end of a tunnel, he will work endlessly. Rich Eisen has not come on our show for almost three years now, and he was told if he tweets at Rich Eisen every day until he comes on the show, we will gift him a Chevy Silverado. We're at day, what, three something.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

No, three.

[Jack McPherson]

Today was 692.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Excuse me. See?

[Interviewer]

Three years and what's. Yeah, three years.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I got mixed up with this. This is the OG Pain Train video.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, is this Terry. Is this like, Terry Tate?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Oh, yeah. Office linebacker.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I used to love those commercials.

[Jack McPherson]

You're gonna have to put on headphones, I believe.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

If you want to hear this with these ones, put those on.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

This is great, because they throw a little Johnny Cash in here. This is awesome.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

All right, let me see this.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Start it over. Jack.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

When did they stop playing this?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Two years ago.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Years ago.

[Jack McPherson]

Yeah, there. There's a version of it.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It's similar.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Similar, but people are saying ever since Lawan left the building, they couldn't play that anymore.

[Jack McPherson]

I'm not saying it, but we bring the OG video back. Titan Super Bowl 2024.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Well, I'll do some research on that.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Okay.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I gotta figure out why it went away in the first place.

[Jack McPherson]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Does nobody know who Terry Tate is anymore? Because I played a Terry Tate video one time for the guys in Cincinnati. All the players looked at me like.

[Interviewer]

I forget he can hear me.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Are you willing to cut your dick off for a Tennessee Titans Super Bowl? Got two kids. Two beautiful children.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I do. I might not be done. I don't know if I can. I don't know if I can commit to that part. I got young kids.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

What are you Willing to do for a Tennessee Titans Super Bowl?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, I'd be willing to do quite a bit. Would you take off a limb, like a finger? Let's say whole hand, like Ronnie Lot style?

[Interviewer]

Let's say whole hand.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Your dominant hand.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

My dominant hand for Super Bowl?

[Interviewer]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

For the Tennessee Titans as the head coach. That would be pretty. That would be pretty sweet.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Old man gets one.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Nashville Jack McPherson gets one.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

That's the most important. Most important I would have.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Garrett Hargis gets one. Sorry. You didn't speak. Obviously, I was wrapped up.

[Interviewer]

Would you take off that dominant hand?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

That. That. That would be tough. That would be tough to. That would be tough to offer up. But in fairness to the commitment, I could. I could be. If that's what it meant. I would. I would give it some consideration.

[Interviewer]

That's not.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

This is a yes or no question. Are you willing to. Now that we've narrowed it down to a dominant hand, would you cut off your right hand for a Tennessee Titans Super Bowl?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I cannot cut off my right hand. Oh. Because now, here's the problem. Here's the problem. I get into that same situation again, and someone says, I heard you would cut your hand off.

[Interviewer]

And then you write that out.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. You'd have to have some incredible commitment to the process.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

How about this?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

But then you finally do it, and then you could be like. Then you could.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Well, afterwards. Then you can back up. But then what's the. What's the fun in that?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Right? Two options. I'm gonna give you two options. There's a classic locker room where a gun to your head. You have to choose one.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Would you rather for a Titan super bowl, lose one testicle or get a busting with the boys? Tramp stamp championship 20, 24. Tramp stamp on your low back.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, I'll do. I'll do the tramp stamp. Yeah, I could do that.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

We got a boy.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I did a tattoo.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It took us a couple ways.

[Interviewer]

He said they're a little too easy at tramp stamp.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, no problem. He's actually. Tattoo right here.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

You can do it over the one I already got. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Gary, I did not give you opportunity and. Time out.

[Interviewer]

Time out. Time out. He never got a chance to answer the. To say if he's gonna bring back pain train or Jack an opportunity to maybe one day swing this.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, he told me. He told me twist question. I was like, all right, we're getting right into it right now. That is. That's my fault. I'm realizing where the.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I gotta do the research on the. The video.

[Jack McPherson]

Yeah, we need details on that.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

What?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Because I don't know what. I've never even heard of it. I didn't know. So let me.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

It plays in the fourth quarter, right?

[Jack McPherson]

Yeah.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Oh, is that when it was started? The fourth quarter? Like. Like Renegade style in Pittsburgh? Like that's the.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, I guess so.

[Interviewer]

Like that's to kick off that fourth quarter.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I hear that train coming.

[Jack McPherson]

It's Folsom Prison.

[Interviewer]

You know, the fans want to maybe you ask questions.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, I can just. I. I can. I can at least give you that. I'll look into it. Yeah.

[Jack McPherson]

That's all I'm asking.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, it's all I'm asking.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

The swords. The sword's new for me too.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

I got to figure out what swords.

[Jack McPherson]

New and maybe the sword just so it's a little bit more enticing for Yalls demographic. Maybe we bring Will and Taylor X Titans out there too and then they can help and we can all as a team slam that sword in the ground.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

We just both get on a knee and hand it to Jack.

[Interviewer]

No doubt. Yeah, that's exactly.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Jack and Garrett hold it together and.

[Interviewer]

Put it in the ground, boys. 12th man. And then just King Arthur.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, that would be sick. I like that. Yeah.

[Interviewer]

G. Did you have anything.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah, I got a question.

[Interviewer]

So with the additions to the weapons.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

On offense and a unfortunate Titans fan base that can be fair weathered, what.

[Interviewer]

Can the fan base look forward to this coming season?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Well, I think that we're going to have a. I think we have a team of guys that are. That are hungry to prove. I know not. I know the perception of us outside of our building is not high. I think we. We have a lot of people that don't think that we're going to be much and I think that's where we want to be right now. And we have a chance to. To prove a lot of people a lot of opinions wrong. I think we're made. I think we have a team that's made up to do it. You're going to have. We're going to play hard as hell. There's going to be. I think we're going to have fun playing together. I think you're going to see the energy and the connection amongst the team. And at the end of the day, the guys that we brought in and you pair them with the guys in the locker room is we got some guys that play football a particular way. And that's as Denard Wilson, our defense coordinator says. We got some dogs and he says, dawg. And that stands for disciplined with grit. And I like that. But I think that's the image that. Especially on defense, too, with. With Lujarius and Cheeto adding them at corner, you add Big Sweat in there in the middle and Sebastian Joseph Day, and you pair them with Jeffrey. I think there's some really cool things happening on defense that I'm really excited about. And so, again, I can't make predictions and promises and proclamations, but as far as the people and what the team looks like, I think you're gonna. It's gonna be a product that people are gonna be excited to come watch. Show up to the games, people. Yeah.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Show up to the games.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I said, look, I said it in my opening press conference. I said it like, we need the city of Nashville and Titans fans. Like, we need them. We need the stadium to be a place that people come to and are like, oh, man, I don't want to go play in Nashville. Like, that's what we're looking for. We need that environment. So all the Titans fans out there listening to me, come one, come all, man. We need everybody on board, and hopefully you get in early enough and you don't get accused of jumping on the bandwagon when. When things go right.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, that's a good small core of. Of a Titans fan base out there for sure.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Every.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, every franchise has their 5%. Like that 5% crazy fan base. And the Titans 5% is strong. That's great.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I love that.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

That's.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

It's.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

They're crazy people in the best way possible.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

That's what you need. That's. That's what makes the NFL the NFL.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Rip Matt Neely, man.

[Interviewer]

Rip Matt Neely.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He was the one.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah.

[Interviewer]

Dude. Thank you for coming on this.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Thanks for having me.

[Interviewer]

This is awesome.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

This is fun. I know.

[Interviewer]

Hour 40 with the head ball, coach.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Yeah. I love it.

[Interviewer]

I hope Bill listens.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I can't promise you that he'll listen.

[Interviewer]

Yeah, I hope he does.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Just know that I might have to.

[Interviewer]

Say, hey, Will City. Hope he listens to this.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I think we can probably make that happen.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Yeah, we do appreciate you coming on. We will be flying the Titans flag all season long. I love it on this bus.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I love it.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

We'll be supporting you the whole time. We appreciate you coming.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Appreciate that from. From you guys. Thanks for having me on, man. This is a blast. Appreciate you enjoyed it.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Subscribe Rate 5 stars.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Big hugs, 10 kisses oh, what you eating?

[Co-host/Interviewer]

The new banana split cookie from ampm. All freshly baked with real butter with.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Banana, chocolate and strawberry flavors. That sounds amazing.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Can I have a bite?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

I'm sorry, but no.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

But you can't split the banana.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Split.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Not even a little?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Not even a crumb. What if. No, please. Mine. When it's too legit to split. That's cravenience. Get a 3 pack for 99 cents with our app ampm.

[Interviewer]

Too much good stuff plus tax where applicable.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Prices and participation may vary in terms of conditions apply.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Should you? That's what the real question is. Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Dan.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

He's Ty. Hello.

[Jake Hofer]

And we're the solid verbal college football podcast.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Tune in for previews, recaps, bits you won't hear anywhere else, and all the.

[Jake Hofer]

Emotional support you need as a college football fan. Join us all season long as we ride the roller coaster of this ridiculous sport. Listen to the solid verbal college football.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

Podcasts on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.

[Coach Brian Callahan]

Or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jake Hofer]

We don't just love college football, Ty.

[Co-host/Interviewer]

We live it.