The Tennessee Titans have been nothing short of a circus through the first three games in an abysmal start to the 2025 season. Ring leader Brian Callahan announced the circus’ newest act Tuesday and it involves a promotion for a former University of Tennessee quarterback.
Callahan is relieving himself of play calling duties and his handing the responsibility to quarterback coach Bo Hardegree instead of offensive coordinator Nick Holz. The second-year head coach effectively giving himself a demotion is strange enough, but the quarterback’s coach assuming the responsibility instead of the offensive coordinator is even more odd.
Callahan explained that he went with Hardegree as the play caller instead of Holz because he has more recent play calling experience. The former Vol quarterback was the interim offensive coordinator for the Raiders in 2023 while Holz last called plays for UNLV during the 2022 season.
Hardegree was successful as the Raiders’ interim offensive coordinator in 2023. In the first eight games of the season, Las Vegas averaged 15.75 points per game. The Raiders then averaged 22.9 points per game in the final nine games with Hardegree calling plays.
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Of course, Hardegree has one of the most important jobs on the Titans’ coaching staff right now as he attempts to develop rookie quarterback Cam Ward. It’s unclear how Hardegree’s new play calling duties will affect his ability to coach Ward on game days.
A Jackson, Tennessee native, Hardegree signed with Tennessee football in the 2004 signing class. A three-star recruit coming out of high school, Hardegree spent the 2004-07 seasons on Tennessee’s roster but never played.
Hardegree came to Knoxville as part of the same signing class as quarterbacks Brent Schaeffer and Erik Ainge. The duo split starting duties early in the 2004 season before Ainge won the job.
Ainge went on to be Tennessee’s starting quarterback throughout the rest of Hardegree’s college career while Schaeffer transferred to a junior college for a season before ending up at Ole Miss.
Hardegree has been a journeyman NFL coach, spending stints with the Raiders, Patriots, Jets, Dolphins, Bears and Broncos.
