TNASHVILLE — As the son of longtime NFL coach Bill Callahan, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan began his football career at an early age.
Learning the game at the dinner table from a well-known offensive line coach with years of head coaching experience gave the younger Callahan a distinct advantage in his climb.
And Brian could have easily relied on his father for a job, given that Bill Callahan was the head coach at Nebraska when Brian finished his playing career and graduated from UCLA. Itan Coaching Candidates: Getting to Know Bengals OC Brian Callahan
However, the son chose a more difficult path, which could explain why he is being considered for multiple coaching positions, including the Tennessee Titans.
“I didn’t want my first job to be from my father,” Brian explained in a 2021 interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I never wanted my father to give me a job, either. I’ve never wanted to work for him. I had always wanted to work with him at some point, but his advice was to make your own way in the industry. “I believe I did.
Callahan served as a graduate assistant at UCLA for two years, from 2006 to 2008. Before becoming a quarterback coach, he coached wide receivers at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, for two seasons.
Callahan began his NFL career as an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos in 2010, and he held various positions until 2015, including offensive quality control coach and offensive assistant. Callahan
Callahan previously worked for the Detroit Lions and the Las Vegas Raiders before joining the Bengals in 2019 as offensive coordinator.
Matthew Stafford, the Lions’ quarterback, threw for more than 4,000 yards in both seasons with Callahan as his coach. Derek Carr’s first 4,000-yard season in 2018 was Callahan’s only season with the Raiders.
In Cincinnati, Callahan does not call plays, but Bengals head coach Zac Taylor believes Callahan is critical to the team’s offense, particularly talented quarterback Joe Burrow and star receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Callahan gained even more recognition this season as he helped keep the Bengals offense moving after Burrow injured his throwing hand. Callahan’s leadership enabled backup quarterback Jake Browning to take over and keep the offense running at a high level, keeping the Bengals in playoff contention.
“He coordinates everything to do with (the offense),” Taylor told ESPN. “He establishes the foundation for our offense. On game day, he and I are constantly communicating. That is play calling. That is establishing an offense. He has helped develop every position we have.
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