Even without superstar quarterback Joe Burrow for much of the season, the Cincinnati Bengals offense was a force to be reckoned with in 2023. After Burrow suffered through an array of injuries throughout the season that limited him to only a handful of healthy games, the team still managed to finish 16th overall in offensive scoring. Considering that the team started a backup quarterback for much of the season, 16th is nothing to be ashamed of. With that type of offensive performance through a healthy dose of adversity, the coaching staff has rightfully earned quite a bit of praise.
Bengals Offensive Coordinator to Conduct 2nd Interviews This Week
Following the 2023 season, a player poll was conducted to determine who were the best coordinators in the NFL and Cincinnati’s own offensive coordinator Brian Callahan finished that poll in the top five. With the offensive performance under adverse conditions as well as the respect of his players, Callahan was selected to be interviewed by a handful of teams this offseason as an elite offensive mind is highly sought after in the NFL.
Well those interviews must have gone well because it has been reported that Callahan has been called been for a second round of in-person interviews with the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans. Callahan has been renowned for his work developing and utilizing both superstar quarterback Burrow and backup quarterback Jake Browning this season. Given that his best asset is building a team around a quarterbacks strengths, I would argue that all three of those teams profiles fit Callahan’s talents very well.
Two of those teams have talented young quarterbacks in place including Carolina’s Bryce Young and Tennessee’s Will Levis. Both of those rookie quarterbacks showed significant promise but all three teams have huge advantages to a young coaches career.
Option 1: Atlanta
While Atlanta will likely be moving on to a new quarterback after former University of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder couldn’t make the jump to become a solid starting quarterback, they also have an elite defense (including former Cincinnati safety Jessie Bates III), a solid offensive line and terrific young weapons in tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Drake London. With the team’s draft position this year at the eighth overall pick, Atlanta will have the opportunity to either pick an elite quarterback or bring in a bridge quarterback in free agency.
Option 2: Carolina
I would argue that Carolina is going to be the worst coaching job available after they put together the worst record in the NFL this season but also traded away the first overall pick to the Chicago Bears. Even with Bryce Young, there is little opportunity for the team to improve the offense aside from free agency this season. One selling point for Callahan is that the team might be interested in bringing in elite Cincinnati free agent receivers Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd. If Callahan could land both of them, developing Young might not be as impossible as it sounds.
Option 3: Tennessee
While Tennessee currently runs a power running scheme built around aging superstar free agent Derrick Henry, the pieces are there for an elite passing game after a solid season from rookie quarterback Levis and an elite offensive line. Star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons will serve as the anchor for the defense for years to come after he signed a big extension. Tennessee also has a solid draft pick available with the seventh overall so Callahan would have his option of an extra wide receiver or a defensive piece.
Callahan may not have an option of where he ends up as it seems like every team is waiting on the word of elite former head coaches Jim Harbaugh and Bill Belichick. It is possible that Callahan will be the head coach at the odd team out of those three after all three teams have interviewed the star coaches as well. Callahan has been an excellent coach in Cincinnati but deserves a top coaching position in the NFL.
