The Titans have been characterized by constant change in recent years, with the club having switched out one of its football leaders every year going back to 2022.
On Friday, Tennessee announced another change, but it’s one that will make the team’s front-office structure more conventional.
Team owner Amy Adams Strunk announced that General Manager Mike Borgonzi will lead the club’s upcoming coaching search and have the final say on the club’s 53-man roster. President of football operations Chad Brinker will lead strategic functions like the salary cap and analytics.
Both Borgonzi and Brinker will report directly to Strunk. Their titles will not change.
“Over the past few years, several job descriptions in our football organization were established to address specific situations and challenges that existed at the time,” Strunk said in a letter addressed to Titans fans. “After working together for the past year, they believe — and I agree — there is a long-term benefit to clarifying and honing the focus areas of our football leadership.
“For that reason, we’re returning to a front office that feels more straightforward to them and me. Going forward, Mike will serve as General Manager in the most traditional sense — pick and support the players, oversee the coaching staff — while Chad will continue to lead everything else about the football team. For example, Mike will manage the 53-man roster and lead the head coach search. Chad will continue to serve as President of Football Operations, leading strategic functions including salary cap management, analytics, research and development, and other football departments.”
Strunk added, “[T]heir collective goal is to return the football team to the championship caliber you deserve.”
Since late 2022, the Titans have fired G.M. Jon Robinson, hired G.M. Ran Carthon, fired head coach Mike Vrabel, hired head coach Brian Callahan, fired Carthon, hired Borgonzi, and fired Callahan.
We’ll see if this new front-office structure will lead to more stability with the franchise.
Titans Clips
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman’s name has come up in conjunction with head coaching vacancies in the NFL, but it looks like teams with a need in 2026 will have to look elsewhere.
In a post to X.com on Monday, Freeman indicated that he won’t be leaving South Bend in the immediate future. Freeman wrote “2026…run it back” and “Go Irish” in the post.
Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua said earlier this month that “everybody has eyes on Marcus” and that part of his job is to make sure Freeman “knows that he will be where he deserves to be, and that is at the top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation every year.”
Freeman has gone 43-12 since being hired by Notre Dame in the wake of Brian Kelly’s departure in 2021. He took the team to the national championship game last season, but Notre Dame opted out of the postseason this year after they were not given a bid to the college football playoffs.
The Giants and Titans both fired their head coaches during the regular season. There will likely be other jobs available after Week 18’s games are in the books.
The Titans fear cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis tore his Achilles in Sunday’s loss to the Saints, Jordan Schultz of The Schultz Report reports.
Achilles’ tears are easily diagnosed, but Armour-Davis will undergo an MRI to confirm.
Armour-Davis was injured on Jeffery Simmons’ sack of Saints quarterback Tyler Shough with 11:10 remaining in the first half. He required a cart to get into the training room.
Armour-Davis played 10 games, starting nine, after arriving off waivers from the Ravens. He totaled 34 tackles and two passes defensed.
He is scheduled to become a free agent in March.
It was a meaningless game between teams that have long since been eliminated from playoff contention, but as an opportunity to see two promising rookie quarterbacks, today’s Saints-Titans game was not a bad one.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 22 of 27 passes for 333 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions, as the Saints won 34-26.
Titans first overall pick Cam Ward had his moments but ultimately fell short, completing 21 of 40 passes for 251 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
The Saints still have a lot of work to do on rebuilding their roster, which has been depleted by years of salary cap mismanagement. But Shough gives them some hope for the future, as does their current four-game winning streak. The Saints are now 6-10 for the season.
The Titans fell to 3-13, and they know they have a lot of work to do in building a team around Ward, even as Ward’s improved play late this season gives them one reason for optimism.
The Panthers added rookie Tetairoa McMillan to their injury report with an illness on Sunday morning, but they won’t have to go without their top wide receiver against the Seahawks.
McMillan is active for their home game against the NFC West frontrunners. The first-round pick has 65 catches for 924 yards and seven touchdowns so far this season.
The Panthers will win the NFC South on Sunday with a win and a Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins. If they don’t get that combination of results, the two teams will okay for the division crown in Week 18.
Seahawks at Panthers
Seahawks: WR Hunter Renfrow, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, TE James Mitchell, DT Tershawn Wharton
Panthers: QB Jalen Milroe, CB Coby Bryant, LB Jared Ivey, T Charles Cross, G Bryce Cabledue, OL Mason Richman, DL Brandon Pili
Steelers at Browns
Steelers: QB Will Howard, WR Calvin Austin, RB Kaleb Johnson, CB Brandin Echols, CB James Pierre, G Isaac Seumalo, EDGE T.J. Watt, DL Logan Lee
Browns: OL Jeremiah Byers, QB Dillon Gabriel, OL Kendrick Green, CB Myles Harden, DL Sam Kamara, TE David Njoku, WR Jamari Thrash
Patriots at Jets
Patriots: QB Tommy DeVito, WR Kayshon Boutte, OT Marcus Bryant, G Jared Wilson, NT Khyiris Tonga, LB Robert Spillane, LB Harold Landry
Jets: QB Tyrod Taylor, OL Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner, TE Mason Taylor, DL Mazi Smith, S Chris Smith
Saints at Titans
Saints: S Ugo Amadi, WR Mason Tipton, CB Rejzohn Wright, RB Alvin Kamara, G Cesar Ruiz, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DT Bryan Bresee
Titans: S Jerrick Reed, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL Garrett Dellinger, OL Drew Moss, DL Cam Horsley
Jaguars at Colts
Jaguars: CB Keith Taylor, RB Bhayshul Tuten, G Patrick Mekari, C Robert Hainsey, TE Hunter Long, DL Danny Striggow, DT Maason Smith
Colts: C Tanor Bortolini, RB Tyler Goodson, S Reuben Lowery, S George Odum, OL Dalton Tucker, DL JT Tuimoloau
Buccaneers at Dolphins
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, WR Sterling Shepard, S Rashad Wisdom, LB John Bullock, OT Tristan Wirfs, EDGE Anthony Nelson
Dolphins: QB Tua Tagovailoa, S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, OL Kendall Lamm, C Aaron Brewer, LB Derrick McClendon
Cardinals at Bengals
Cardinals: S Budda Baker, OL Evan Brown, TE Pharaoh Brown, CB Kei’Trel Clark, K Joshua Karty, CB Kalen King, DL PJ Mustipher
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Charlie Jones, CB Josh Newton, S PJ Jules, DE Joseph Ossai, TE Cam Grandy, DT Jordan Jefferson
Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has an expiring contract. The Vikings are trying to extend it. Even if they do, Flores can interview for head-coaching jobs and, if offered one, take it.
A survey of various high-level executives throughout the league has pointed to one obvious conclusion: He’ll most likely be a candidate, because of the effectiveness of his scheme. Generally speaking, his peers and various General Managers recognize that he’s doing a phenomenal job in Minnesota.
Helping Flores in the coming cycle is the fact that, as one source put it, there are many names but very few standouts.
At least one G.M. regards Flores as the best defensive coordinator in the entire league, with a variety of pressures that make it very difficult for offenses to prepare each and every week. Some believe the scheme alone will get him serious consideration.
The other question relates to the bigger picture. Leadership of the team. Owners, as one executive put it, will focus on the ability to collaborate, as well as emotional intelligence.
How will he manage the entire locker room, especially when adversity inevitably strikes? A head coach will be expected to inspire belief through the rough spots, and there will always be one or two (or more) in a given season. The best head coaches instill a belief and a vision for attacking challenging situations with authenticity and real solutions.
Interested teams will undoubtedly dig deep into his time with Miami, which didn’t go well. How much of that is on him? How much can be attributed to the chronic dysfunction of the Dolphins organization? And while the Steelers, we’re told, loved Flores during his one-year stint as senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach, there are (and have been) league-wide rumblings about his interpersonal style during three years in Minnesota — some of which may trace to eleven seasons spent working for Bill Belichick in New England.
Still, as one source put it, the scheme is more important than the other stuff. That can be dealt with later, behind closed doors, if necessary.
It’s still unclear which teams will have openings. The Titans and Giants currently do. As to New York, the fact that the Giants are one of the named defendants to his arbitration/litigation against the NFL and four specific teams (the Dolphins, Broncos, and Texans are the other named defendants) will be a natural impediment, even if it by law shouldn’t be. Don’t expect Flores to surface as an option with the Giants (or, obviously, the Dolphins, if they make a change).
Flores also will need to choose wisely. When the window opens the first time for a coordinator, there’s a strong temptation to jump through it, broader issues with the franchise be damned. When the window opens the second time, the coach needs to be far more careful, because it could be his last shot.
Ultimately, Flores’s candidacy comes down to one owner and organization deciding to make the move, and Flores deciding to make that team his second NFL head-coaching stop. Anyone who saw Thursday’s Lions-Vikings game has to at least be intrigued by the prospect of Flores bringing that kind of havoc-creating defense to a team that needs a boost. Otherwise, that team wouldn’t be looking for a new head coach.
The NFL Players Association announced on Friday that Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has been named their Community MVP for Week 17.
Simmons held a series of recent events for young people around the Nashville area. Simmons worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee to provide four high school seniors with custom suits they can use for job and college interviews as well as other milestone events in their lives. He also provided 20 other students with $400 to shop for clothing and other gear and donated $5,000 to support the girls flag football team at a local high school.
“I’m honored to be named the NFLPA Community MVP,” Simmons said in a statement. “This recognition reflects the incredible work that is being done in our amazing community. I’m grateful to continue to use my platform to be a light in my community.”
The NFLPA will donate $10,000 to a nonprofit organization of Simmons’ choice and he will join the other weekly winners in being eligible for the NFLPA’s Alan Page Award at the end of the season.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough is on the team’s injury report for a second consecutive week, but he remains a full participant.
Shough has a hip issue but played 76 of 78 snaps in the 29-6 win over the Jets on Sunday.
He has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 1,792 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Shough has also run for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
The Saints practiced without running back Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle), offensive lineman Cesar Ruiz (ankle), tight end Foster Moreau (ankle), defensive tackle Bryan Bresee (knee), defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (rest) and tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden (knee).
Defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (ankle/knee) and wide receiver Mason Tipton (groin) were limited.
Wide receiver Chris Olave (back) and offensive tackle Asim Richards (ankle) were full participants.
The AFC and NFC rosters for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games were announced on Tuesday morning.
Votes from fans, coaches and players were used to select the teams. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce led the fan vote and was named to his 11th Pro Bowl. Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, and Bears safety Kevin Byard were the other leaders in that vote, but Williams is not on the initial NFC roster.
Chargers tackle Joe Alt did make the AFC roster despite playing in only six games before being shut down with an ankle injury.
Three teams — the Jets, Saints and Vikings — have no Pro Bowlers. The Broncos, 49ers, Ravens, and Seahawks each had six players selected.
The Pro Bowl Games will be held in San Francisco on February
The full rosters appear below with starters indicated by an asterisk.
AFC
Quarterback: Josh Allen*, Buffalo Bills; Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers; Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Running back: De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins; James Cook, Buffalo Bills; Jonathan Taylor*, Indianapolis Colts
Fullback: Patrick Ricard*, Baltimore Ravens
Wide receiver: Ja’Marr Chase*, Cincinnati Bengals; Nico Collins*, Houston Texans; Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens; Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Tight end: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders*; Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Offensive tackle: Joe Alt*, Los Angeles Chargers; Garett Bolles*, Denver Broncos; Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills
Offensive guard: Quinn Meinerz*, Denver Broncos; Quenton Nelson*, Indianapolis Colts; Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Center: Creed Humphrey*, Kansas City Chiefs; Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive end: Will Anderson Jr.*, Houston Texans; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders; Myles Garrett*, Cleveland Browns
Interior linemen: Zach Allen, Denver Broncos; Chris Jones*, Kansas City Chiefs; Jeffrey Simmons*, Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker: Nik Bonitto*, Denver Broncos; Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers; T.J. Watt*, Pittsburgh Steelers
Inside/middle linebacker: Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans; Roquan Smith*, Baltimore Ravens
Cornerback: Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots; Derek Stingley Jr.*, Houston Texans; Pat Surtain II*, Denver Broncos; Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
Free safety: Jalen Ramsey*, Pittsburgh Steelers
Strong safety: Kyle Hamilton*, Baltimore Ravens; Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
Long-snapper: Ross Matiscik*, Jacksonville Jaguars
Punter: Jordan Stout*, Baltimore Ravens
Place-kicker: Cameron Dicker*, Los Angeles Chargers
Return specialist: Chimere Dike*, Tennessee Titans
Special-teamer: Ben Skowronek*, Pittsburgh
NFC
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford*, Los Angeles Rams; Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks; Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Running back: Jahmyr Gibbs*, Detroit Lions; Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers; Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk*, San Francisco 49ers
Wide receiver: Puka Nacua*, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba*, Seattle Seahawks; George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Tight end: Trey McBride*, Arizona Cardinals; George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive tackle: Penei Sewell*, Detroit Lions; Tristan Wirfs* Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive guard: Tyler Smith*, Dallas Cowboys; Joe Thuney*, Chicago Bears; Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
Center: Drew Dalman*, Chicago Bears; Cam Jurgens, Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive end: Aidan Hutchinson*, Detroit Lions; Micah Parsons*, Green Bay Packers; DeMarcus Lawrence, Seattle Seahawks
Interior linemen: Jalen Carter*, Philadelphia Eagles; Leonard Williams*, Seattle Seahawks, Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys
Outside linebacker: Brian Burns*, New York Giants, Jared Verse*, Los Angeles Rams; Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams
Inside/middle linebacker: Jack Campbell*, Detroit Lions; Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Cornerback: Jaycee Horn*, Carolina Panthers; Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
Free safety: Kevin Byard III*, Chicago Bears; Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Strong safety: Budda Baker*, Arizona Cardinals
Long-snapper: Jon Weeks*, San Francisco 49ers
Punter: Tress Way*, Washington Commanders
Placekicker: Brandon Aubrey*, Dallas Cowboys
Return specialist: Rashid Shaheed*, Seattle Seahawks
Special-teamer: Luke Gifford*, San Francisco 49ers
The Titans will have a big decision to make this offseason about their next head coach and their sales pitch should be helped by the way that quarterback Cam Ward is closing out his rookie season.
Ward played what may have been his best game of the season in Sunday’s 26-9 thumping of the Chiefs. He was 21-of-28 for 275 yards and two touchdowns in the win and he’s now thrown two touchdown passes in three straight games. That’s a step up from the seven touchdown passes he had in the first 12 games of the season and it’s one of the steps in the right direction that Ward is sensing as the Titans near the end of the year.
“I think I’ve been better each and every week, whether it’s one thing or whether it’s a major thing,” Ward said, via the team’s website. “I think just going forward, I just continue to control what I can control, lead my teammates, be a great team player and try to win games.”
Ward isn’t alone in seeing the progress he’s made over the course of his rookie season and two more solid outings will make it even easier to see the first year as the building block for more successful years to come in Tennessee.
