Cleveland Browns bracing for offensive line coach Bill Callahan's departure to Titans

BEREA — The Browns are bracing for a major loss to the coaching staff as a source confirmed for the Beacon Journal the Tennessee Titans have requested permission to speak with offensive line coach Bill Callahan.

Callahan, whose son Brian was hired last week as the Titans' new head coach, is expected to take the job in Nashville. The 67-year-old is considered one of the top offensive line coaches in the NFL.

The Browns don't have a successor for Callahan immediately lined up. They're expected to go through a full process to replace him.

Callahan's importance to the Browns can only be summed up by how soon after Kevin Stefanski was hired as head coach in 2020 that Stefanski brought him in to coach the offensive line. Beyond that, Callahan's office in the Browns facility was directly adjacent to the head coach's office, further showing how much weight as placed on him.

The offensive coaching staff has essentially undergone a complete overhaul. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, tight ends coach T.C. McCartney and running backs coach Stump Mitchell were all let go days after the Browns' AFC wild card loss to the Houston Texans.

Former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was hired on Sunday to replace Van Pelt, who was hired for the same position with the New England Patriots on Thursday. Van Pelt will call plays for the Patriots, something he didn't do in Cleveland with Stefanski having handled those chores over his first four seasons.

There remains no clarity on whether or not Dorsey will assume play-calling duties from Stefanski. That has been characterized as something that remains in discussion.

Former Carolina Panthers assistant head coach/running backs coach Duce Staley will replace Mitchell. The Browns and former University of Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees were working toward a deal for him to be the next tight ends coach, with additional responsibilities in the development of the pass game.

The Browns also hired Houston Texans defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire for the same position on Saturday. He replaces Ben Bloom, who may still be re-assigned on the defensive staff.

It's the Browns' policy not to comment on staff changes until the staff is finalized.

The Browns signed Callahan to an extension last January after the New York Jets requested permission to speak with him about their offensive coordinator position. He made his NFL coaching debut with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995.

Brian Callahan was hired last week to replace Mike Vrabel as Titans head coach. The younger Callahan spent the last five seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals.

The elder Callahan was revered among the Browns offensive linemen. This season, when injuries led to seven different starting offensive line groupings, the linemen consistently credited Callahan for his work in preparing everyone from starters to backups to be ready to play.

"One thing that they truly stress is that there are no backups," reserve guard Michael Dunn told the Beacon Journal in December. "Every single person in that room, from starter to a practice squad guy who might've just shown up, you are expected to treat the week as if you're starting. It's really a mentality that everybody has in the room, that you could be the guy, you are the guy, and you have to prepare to be the guy. … Everybody's going to be looked upon to perform."

The Browns this season lost All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin to a season-ending knee injury in the opener against Cincinnati, then starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. to one in Week 9 against Arizona. Conklin's replacement, rookie fourth-round pick Dawand Jones, stepped in and played at a high level until he was lost for the season with a knee injury in practice before a Week 14 win over Jacksonville.

Beyond the tackle position, which ended the season with Geron Christian — who played for Callahan previously while in Washington — and third-year pro James Hudson III starting, All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio missed all of a Week 6 win over eventual NFC champion San Francisco after having a knee scope and left a Week 15 win over Chicago with a back injury. Center Ethan Pocic also missed a game due to injury, with Nick Harris starting in his place.

"I think it really does come back to (offensive line coach Bill) Callahan and his ability to really bring along everybody," Pro Bowl right guard Teller said in mid-December. "… I remember when coach came to the Browns in 2020, we’re all talking because we had some injuries and all this different stuff and we had all these different offensive line combinations and coach was telling us that he’s seen it all, he’s experienced, he’s able to, in those times of need, be able to already kind of pointed to it.

"But the next-men-up mentality, and when it comes offensive line play, you can get hurt at anytime. So you got to be able to push through all that and kind of play at your best, even though there’s a lot of adversity going on. And I know everybody’s trying to do that.”

Callahan's career, college and pro, includes head-coaching stops with the Oakland Raiders (2002-03), University of Nebraska (2004-07) and interim head coach for Washington in 2019. He's also been the offensive coordinator for the Raiders (1998-2001) and Dallas Cowboys (2012-14), and assistant head coach/offensive line coach for the Jets (2008-11) and Washington (2017-19).

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Bill Callahan expected to leave Browns for Titans assistant job