How Bad is it for the Tennessee Titans? In Nashville, The ‘Rebuild’ Has Become a Crisis

Four games into the season, however, the script has been violently torn up. At 0-4 and coming off their first shutout loss since 2019, the question is no longer “Will the Titans contend?” It is a far more existential and urgent one: “How bad is it?”

The short answer: Historically bad, with the stench of organizational failure lingering over Nissan Stadium.

The Titans currently own the NFL’s worst offense, averaging a paltry 12.8 points and a dead-last 210.5 yards per game. The low point came in a humiliating 26-0 road defeat to the Houston Texans, a team that was winless heading into the matchup. The team has now lost ten consecutive games dating back to last season, tying a franchise-long losing streak since the team moved to Tennessee.

The most damning statistic? Through four games, the Titans have tallied five turnovers compared to only three total offensive touchdowns. They are turning the ball over almost twice as often as they are scoring.

The Problem in the Trenches: Cam Ward’s Crucible

All eyes are on rookie quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but the team’s struggles are quickly making his development a nightmare.

General Manager Mike Borgonzi’s offseason focused heavily on overhauling the offensive line, signing veterans like Lloyd Cushenberry III and Dan Moore Jr. to protect the new face of the franchise. Yet, the results have been disastrous. Ward has been pressured on 45% of his dropbacks, the highest rate in the NFL for any quarterback with over 35 attempts. When his pocket is clean, Ward has been serviceable (completing 60% of his passes), but the majority of his time is spent running for his life.

Making matters worse, Ward’s supposed veteran support has been nonexistent. High-priced veteran wideouts like Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett have struggled to create separation (Ridley ranks 49th in the NFL for yards of separation), forcing Ward to throw into tight windows. Rookie receiver Elic Ayomanor is currently leading the team in receiving yards, a stinging indictment of the lack of veteran production.

As Ward himself starkly put it after the shutout loss: “If we keep it a buck right now, we ass. We’re 0-4… We have to lock in, especially myself. In all three phases, we have to play together and have not done it this year yet.”

Brian Callahan: Head Coach on the Hot Seat

The crisis has, predictably, landed squarely on the shoulders of Head Coach Brian Callahan. Hired for his offensive acumen, Callahan’s team has been historically incompetent. He now holds a composite record of 3-18 as Titans head coach, the worst mark through 21 games in modern NFL history.

Callahan has already relinquished play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree in an attempt to spark the offense. However, the issues extend beyond play calls, touching on game management and team discipline.

Callahan’s presence is tied to the new organizational philosophy—a desire to move away from the “bully ball” era of Mike Vrabel toward a modern, offensive-centric structure. Borgonzi and President of Football Operations Chad Brinker have preached “patience over panic,” viewing 2025 as a floor-raising rebuild year. But the on-field product has become so woeful—marked by penalties, turnovers, and a complete lack of flow—that the fan base and analysts are openly calling for a mid-season coaching change. For an ownership group with a history of decisiveness, Callahan’s seat is scalding.

Outlook: A Long Road Ahead

For the Titans, the most immediate silver lining is that the brutal start all but guarantees a high draft pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The organization may very well be resigned to using this year as a complete tear-down, absorbing the losses to secure more foundational pieces for the future.

Defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons summed up the locker-room frustration best: “It’s frustrating as hell… When are we actually going to do the things we’re talking about? Tackling, penalties, stop getting penalties in critical situations, and ultimately winning football games. It’s draining.”

The Tennessee Titans entered 2025 asking for patience. They are now testing the limits of fan endurance. What began as a strategic rebuild has devolved into a full-blown organizational crisis, and the once-mighty “Titan Up” mantra has become a plea for just a single win. For now, the answer to “How bad is it?” is simple: It’s as bad as it gets.