NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Brian Callahan experiment is officially over, and the Tennessee Titans aren’t waiting around to pick up the pieces. With new head coach Robert Saleh focused on rebuilding the defense, the keys to the offense have been handed to Brian Daboll. His mission? Resurrect a unit that flatlined under Nick Holz and dragged the franchise to the bottom of the AFC South.
Daboll walks into a building desperate for points. The last two seasons were a masterclass in offensive ineptitude, averaging just 17.5 points per game. But as history shows, this franchise can score when the right play-caller is wearing the headset. From the “Exotic Smashmouth” days to the Air McNair MVP season, we ranked every offensive coordinator of the Tennessee era to see exactly what Daboll has to live up to.
1. Arthur Smith (2019-2020)
The Gold Standard. Smith didn’t just call plays; he orchestrated a beatdown. In 2020, his unit averaged 28.9 points per game—the highest in the Tennessee era and second-best in franchise history. He blended Derrick Henry’s peak dominance with Ryan Tannehill’s efficiency to create the NFL’s second-ranked yardage offense. No other Titans squad has cracked the top eight. Smith parlayed this success into a head coaching gig and is currently running the offense at Ohio State.
2. Mike Heimerdinger (2000-04; 2008-10)
The McNair Whisperer. “Dinger” had the keys to the original Ferrari: Eddie George, Steve McNair, and a wall of an offensive line. His 2003 squad put up 27.1 points per game, guiding McNair to Co-MVP honors with a 100.4 rating and 24 touchdowns. His second stint (2008-10) lacked the same firepower, struggling to replicate the magic with Vince Young and Kerry Collins, but his early work remains legendary.
3. Todd Downing (2021-2022)
The One-Year Wonder. Downing’s tenure is a tale of two seasons. In 2021, the Titans went 12-5 with the era’s third-best scoring offense (25.1 ppg), fueled by A.J. Brown and Henry. But 2022 saw the floor fall out, with production dropping by over a touchdown per game. He left for the Jets and is now coaching receivers in New England.
4. Les Steckel (1997-1999)
The Super Bowl Architect. Steckel called the shots for the franchise’s only Super Bowl appearance. He built the system around a bruising Eddie George and allowed a young McNair to improvise. His exit was messy—interviewing with Tampa Bay as his deal expired—but his results were undeniable.
5. Dowell Loggains (2012-13)
The Cleaner. Promoted mid-season after Chris Palmer’s firing, Loggains stabilized a rocky ship. His 2013 unit scored 22.6 points per game (7th best in Titans history) despite starting backups and leaning heavily on Chris Johnson’s 1,077 rushing yards. He’s now the head coach at Appalachian State.
6. Terry Robiskie (2016-2017)
Old School Grit. Robiskie wasn’t flashy (“Exotic Smashmouth,” anyone?), but he was effective. He squeezed two winning seasons out of the roster, helping Marcus Mariota hit his passing peak and securing the team’s first playoff win in nine years. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked.
7. Matt LaFleur (2018)
The Stepping Stone. Before he was owning the NFC North with the Packers, LaFleur spent a gap year in Nashville. The offense was pedestrian (19.4 ppg), and Mariota regressed statistically, but Derrick Henry finally cracked the 1,000-yard mark. LaFleur bolted for Green Bay immediately after the season.
8. Tim Kelly (2023)
The Final Vrabel Chapter. Kelly tried to install the Erhardt-Perkins system, but the roster crumbled around him. Ryan Tannehill missed seven games, the offensive line was porous, and the team won just six games. They finished 27th in scoring (17.9 ppg) and 28th in yards. Kelly is now with the Giants’ tight ends.
9. Nick Holz (2024-2025)
The Rock Bottom. Hired as a non-play-calling coordinator under Brian Callahan, Holz presided over a disaster. The offense sputtered to 17.5 points per game over two years. Callahan eventually handed play-calling duties to QB coach Bo Hardegree before getting fired himself, with Mike McCoy stepping in as interim. It was a chaotic, ineffective mess that led directly to the current rebuild.
10. Chris Palmer (2011-12)
The Mismatch. Mike Munchak brought Palmer back to the NFL, but his conservative scheme felt ancient. He failed to maximize Chris Johnson’s speed and couldn’t develop Jake Locker. He was fired mid-season in 2012, paving the way for Loggains.
11. Norm Chow (2005-07)
The College Experiment. Jeff Fisher took a big swing hiring the USC guru, but Chow was a square peg in a round hole. He was a complete mismatch for Vince Young’s skill set. If the Titans had drafted Matt Leinart, maybe this works. Instead, it was three years of frustration.
12. Jason Michael (2014-15)
The Dark Ages. Michael served under Ken Whisenhunt and Mike Mularkey during the franchise’s bleakest stretch. The team won just five games in two years, and the 2014 squad put up a pitiful 15.9 points per game—the absolute worst of the Titans era.
“We lost our identity. We forgot who we were—a team that punches you in the mouth and runs the ball down your throat. That stops now.”
— Anonymous Titans Veteran
What’s Next: The Daboll Effect
Brian Daboll isn’t just a new hire; he’s a philosophical pivot. After the rigidity of the Callahan/Holz system, expect Daboll to tailor the scheme to his talent, much like he did with Josh Allen in Buffalo. With the Titans holding a top draft pick and cap space, Daboll has the resources to overhaul the roster. The pressure is on immediately—Nashville has lost its patience with 17-point performances.
