Brian Callahan’s NFL Rule Book Blunder: When Coaches Don’t Know the Basics & Looks Lost
The Tennessee Titans’ 20-12 loss to the Denver Broncos was painful enough. But what happened after the game? That’s when things got really ugly for second-year head coach Brian Callahan, who is absolutely on the hot seat this season. Especially with what he revealed in a press conference, Titans fans need to be concerned.
The Play That Changed Everything
Late in the third quarter, with Denver leading 13-12, rookie quarterback Cam Ward launched a pass downfield to receiver Elic Ayomanor. The kid made an incredible grab despite tight coverage from cornerback Riley Moss, falling out of bounds as he secured the ball. The officials ruled it incomplete. No big deal, right? Wrong.
Ayomanor’s elbow clearly hit the ground inbounds before his body went out. According to the NFL rulebook, that’s a catch. One elbow equals two feet – it’s basic stuff. But here’s where it gets embarrassing for Callahan.
The Coach Who Didn’t Know the Rules
When asked why he didn’t challenge the obvious blown call, Callahan delivered this gem:
“You’ve got to get a foot inbounds too. An elbow doesn’t equal two feet. So his foot would have had to come down as well.”
Except that’s completely wrong. The NFL rulebook is crystal clear on this and says the following.
A forward pass is complete if a player “touches the ground inbounds with both feet or with any part of his body other than his hands.”
Any part. Including an elbow. This isn’t some obscure rule buried in the fine print. It’s fundamental NFL knowledge that any coach worth his salt should know cold. This is what an offensive guru is suppose to be?
What This Mistake Really Cost the Titans
Let’s talk about the real damage here. Instead of having first-and-10 near midfield with momentum building, the Titans faced second-and-20. They punted two plays later and never scored again. In a game decided by eight points where the offense managed zero touchdowns against a tough Denver defense, every possession mattered. Callahan’s ignorance potentially cost his team a scoring opportunity that could have changed the entire trajectory of the game.
Callahan Faces the Music
To his credit, Callahan owned up to his mistake on Monday.
“My interpretation of the rule was wrong,” he admitted. “I’ll own it. We should have challenged the play.”
But here’s the thing – owning up to it doesn’t make it any less concerning. How does an NFL head coach not know this rule? What other basic concepts is he fuzzy on? Veteran safety Xavier Woods praised his coach’s accountability, saying Callahan “practices what he preaches.” That’s nice and all, but accountability doesn’t win games. Knowledge does.
The Bigger Picture for Callahan’s Job Security
This rule book blunder is just the latest in a series of questionable decisions that have Titans fans wondering if they picked the right guy. Callahan’s now 3-15 as an NFL head coach, and moments like this don’t exactly inspire confidence. The Titans invested the first overall pick in Cam Ward, and setting him up for success should be the organization’s top priority. Ward looked promising in his debut despite the loss, but he needs coaches who can put him in the best position to win.
What Comes Next
The silver lining? This was just Week 1. The Titans return home to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Here’s hoping Callahan spends some quality time with the NFL rulebook before then. Sometimes the most basic mistakes reveal the biggest problems. In Callahan’s case, not knowing fundamental NFL rules raises serious questions. One thing is clear, Tennessee got to get rid of this guy and should have last season.
