For Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan and quarterback Will Levis, communication is going to be key for their relationship moving forward.
Callahan has already started building the foundation for that relationship, as he recently revealed he was in communication with Levis during the process of hiring his staff.
“I know that as a quarterback, you’re certainly not owed those explanations, or input,” Callahan said, per Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTItans.com. “But I think the best relationships with head coaches and quarterbacks are ones where they are given those opportunities to share information like that. And I thought that was important to keep Will abreast of what was happening both hiring wise, where we were at organizationally, just (because) he plays a huge role in this whole thing, too.
“And so, he needs to feel like he’s got some, at least has my ear and can come to me with anything he thinks. And then I’m able to tell him, what’s happening for us. And I think that’s important, for him to feel like he’s got some involvement, some ownership, some input to what’s happening. And again, it’s not necessarily that he’s owed that. It’s just that I think that’s the working relationship that I want to have with him. And I think for me, it’s starting that precedent was the right thing to do. I think he’s appreciated it. And it’s been really fun to start to get to know him.”
Callahan noted that the approach he plans on taking with Levis as far as taking his input with play-calling and other things will be similar to the one he and head coach Zac Taylor utilized in Cincinnati with the Bengals.
“My relationship with (Will), his relationship with me and Nick (Holz) and (QBs coach) Bo (Hardegree) is going to be really a critical factor in our success,” Callahan said. “And I wanted to make sure that he feels like he has input and ownership into that process. And we can kind of build it from there and hope that he gives me the same kind of feedback I need from him, particularly when you’re talking about plays and what you like and how you like it.”
“One of the things that made (Bengals QB) Jake Browning so unique and so helpful was that we had a great relationship and rapport where he could tell me and he could tell (Bengals HC) Zac (Taylor), ‘Hey, I don’t like this play, don’t call this, without any kind of fear of retribution or ‘no you’re going to run what I tell you,'” Callahan added. “That’s not how it’s going to work. We’re going to have an input from him, and I think it’s important that he feels that willingness from me. So, we can build a successful scheme around his skill set that he feels comfortable with.”
Since hiring general manager Ran Carthon last year, owner Amy Adams Strunk has stressed collaboration. At least from the jump, it’s clear Callahan checks that box and doing so will only help his relationship with Levis.
